Peoples Daily Newspaper, Saturday 17, August, 2013

INEC registers proAtiku party, one other pg 10

Jonathan’s government is confused – Ribadu pg 6

pg 21

2015: Who confronts Jonathan?

Vol. 3 No. 52

SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Danjuma

N35bn Niger dredging: From Baro to Warri, it’s >>Pg 3 tale of woes Amaechi

Buhari

SHAWWAL 10-11, 1434 AH

Mark

Atiku

Ribadu

N150

Lamido

Ogbe

Tambuwal

Okagbare wins 2015 campaigns: Nigeria’s second First Lady dares medal in twelve IGP, INEC >>Pg 16 years >>Pg 52

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Prime Interview PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

The genesis of the Tarok, Wase crises, by Emir

Crises have been the character of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, at least for more than a decade now. Since 2002, the crises have escalated to other parts of Plateau South up to Yelwan Shendam in 2004, leading to the declaration of a state of Emergency in the State by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. In recent time, the crises have intensified leading to the killing of hundreds of people and destruction of property worth millions of Naira. In this exclusive interview with select journalists in his palace, the Emir of Wase, Dr. Muhammadu Sambo Haruna spoke on what he thought is the major cause of the conflict. Our correspondent, Ado Abubakar Musa was there.

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our Royal Highness, what do you think is the genesis of the crises in Wase?

I can give you as a Wase man at the first instance and as a traditional ruler, the perspective of what we believe is the genesis of the problem. Most people misunderstand the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For instance you the journalists that are here, are not indigenes of Wase, but your children can be chairman of Wase Local Government Council, members representing Wase in the state House of Assembly or Federal House of Representatives, commissioners and so many things representing Wase, but cannot be traditional rulers in Wase. There is a distinction between these two things. You see people coming and settling here have the constitutional right to vote and be voted for, but that does not give you the right to inherit the traditional institution.

This whole thing has to do with leadership and acquiring what does not belong to you.

This land was founded by a Fulani man who met the Jukuns, the Basharawas, the Bogoms and about five other tribes, who lives peacefully with understanding, and due development. About 12 to 20 other tribes later on moved in and today, they are free and doing whatever they want in the Local Government Area.

Among the people who moved in are the Taroks just about 59 years ago. They came in because of the vast fertile land that God has blessed us with. Our grandparents saw their arrival as further build up of relationship, though they were not staying in Wase. They only came to work on the farms, then go back home to Langtang to sleep and then come back the following day, and that is how it had been.

As I said, they came to stay about 59 not too long years ago, when my grandfather of blessed memory, the late Emir of Wase, Abdullahi Maikano, first asked them to come and stay, which he did in order to bring them together. But all of a sudden because of exposure and education, they believe that they can just wake up and take what does not belong to them, and this came about during the administration of Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye. There were similar attacks on the people of Wase in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and about one third of the Local Government was taken over by the Tarok people. They instigated

authority and even the last government recognized and gave them a second class chief. You know that was a wrong decision to make, that problem is what has been brewing other crises and has affected us up till today.

Is your community accusing a group or individuals for the attacks?

I think I have answered this question. It is very clear in Wase that we have almost 25 tribes and three religions. And there is one tribe that is fighting all the 25 tribes. So, I think even our children know who is attacking who. No doubt, it is the Taroks against all the other tribes in Wase, period.

The Tarok have accused you of annulling their chiefdom. What is your take on that?

Thank you very much for this question; that is the kind of thing I have tried as much as possible not to talk about with the media, not even with some other people for the simple reason that they will always re-coin it and give it another meaning entirely. I, Muhammadu Sambo Haruna, the fourteenth Emir of Wase does not have the right to establish a chiefdom, even a rural chiefdom.

And who ever tells you that the Emir of Wase has the right to give or withdraw chiefdom is full of mischief. Ours is to recommend to the government of the state what we believe is in the interest of Wase people and it is the prerogative of the Government to approve it or not. Today, no Emir in Plateau State has that right including our President, who is the Gbong Gwom Jos, and this is not only in Plateau State but in other states.

There is also the accusation that you kept silent on the crises?

I have been silent because I have not been heard in the media.

But ask the State government, ask particularly the Special Task Force (STF) on security, ask the local government chairman, about all the efforts that I have been putting in to resolve the problem, and also ask the people of Wase, whose interest and lives I care about.

I thank God Almighty, because He has blessed me with one thing.

90 percent of time when there is problem and if I talk to my people, they listened. I have been talking to them and urging them not to attack and they have listened.

It is not for me to go on air and ask Wase people not to defend themselves, the whole world is looking at the situation. So, let us look at it correctly, and judge

Emir of Wase, Dr. Muhammadu Sambo Haruna who has gone to attack who. Once you go out to attack, it is going to be a different thing all together, and they are listening. I am lucky because it is not every leader that has this kind of privilege.So, I have been talking, and talking to the people concerned,and these are indigenes of Wase, but I have not

“

talked to other persons who will not listen to me.

What other measures do you think can help the situation?

There are measures the State government and security agencies need to take. Like I have said, go and ask anybody what day the Wase

And who ever tells you that the Emir of Wase has the right to give or withdraw chiefdom is full of mischief. Ours is to recommend to the government of the state what we believe is in the interest of Wase people and it is the prerogative of the Government to approve it or not.

man went out to attack who. Among adherents of these three religions in Wase, who has gone out to attack who? So, it is for the government and security agents to tell these people to stop attacking us. It is very simple and straight forward, the Constitution of Nigeria gives you the right to protect yourself. Therefore ,if we are hurt in anyway, it is in the course of protecting ourselves.

Though the security agencies and the state government have been doing what is expected of them, I’m urging them to put in more efforts in ensuring that the attacks end. I must also call on the authorities at the Local Government levels from where those people come to attack us, to prevent them from further attacking us.

I finally admonish my people and all peace-loving people in the area in particular and the State in general to embrace peace in its entirety.

Special Report N35 bn Niger dredging: From Baro to Warri, it’s a tale of woes

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

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From Omale Adama Lokoja

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arely four years after the commencement of the two-phased dredging of the River Niger for the economic advancement of the country, skeletal commercial marine activities have sprung up on the river , ostensibly to justify federal government huge investment in the exercise.

This is practically demonstrated by the hauling of large quantity of about 300 tons of tiles from West African Ceramics Company in Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi state to the commercial nerve centre of Onitsha and capital of Anambra state in the east by Ninon Transport Company Ltd on a regular basis.

A dependable source at National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Lokoja told Peoples Daily Weekend that commercial activities of this magnitude are, in the meantime, limited to the transport Company and the marine Authority that has procured a 45-seater Ferry to transport passengers and goods from Lokoja to Onitsha and back to Lokoja which has been successfully test run. Patronage by the bourgeoisie to lend credence to the proponents of dredging has not registered any appreciable mark on the river largely because of lack of adequate sensitization and awareness and the late completion of what experts considered as ‘’mock dredging’’.

According to the source, plans are in the pipeline by the marine authority to buy more ferries to be deployed to other navigable routes in the country to boost marine transport while pragmatic efforts are being made to invite the private sector to take advantage of the incentives provided by NIWA to key into Authority’s objectives and participate actively.

Contractual agreement for both the capital and maintenance dredging of the 1,176.6 kilometer River Niger from Baro to Warri by the then administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua was awarded to five companies for prompt execution of the project at the cost of N35 billion which included six river ports and the problematic Lokoja river port which has been relocated recently to Jamata to avoid legal chicanery.

Dredging of the lower River Niger fortytwo years after a similar exercise has opened another vista to the economic prosperity of Nigeria in a democratic setting just as it is a dramatic effort to diversify the transport sector. It became practical considering the political will and the commitment of late President Umaru Musa Ya’Adua to translate this into reality as one of the cardinal objectives of developing the transport sector through the maritime transport as encapsulated in his all encompassing seven point agenda.

The ceremony marking the flagging off of the multi-billion naira project on September 10, 2009 has opened yet another chapter in the country’s socio-economic interaction among Nigerians particularly those along the riverine communities of the eight benefitting states.

President Yar’Adua was not oblivious of the enormous socio-economic benefits derivable from the project when he said, “It will promote haulage of goods while engendering linkages and promoting commerce and trading activities between adjoining communities and peoples of the states adjoining the lower river Niger”. If the import of dredging the river Niger at such huge amount of money was to facilitate mass transport of goods and services at less cost inland, it is hasty to conclude that the project is being underutilized considering the time it was completed. Both the dredging and the maintenance dredging were completed just about a month ago. . The main objective underscoring the dredging exercise on the lower river Niger is to ensure that navigable channel is kept open throughout the year with sustainable waterborne transport in the country.

The fear expressed by some cynics that

A Nigerian berge carrying 300 tons of tiles from West African Ceramics, Ajaokuta to Onitsha dredging the River Niger was yet another exercise in futility in view of the economic down turn in the country did not put in consideration the enormous advantages derivable form it. They did not anticipate that when fully operational, it becomes comparatively less expensive, safer and reduces the grotesque carnage that has become the trademark of our highways.

Dr. Aliyu A. Abubakar is the Special Adviser to Governor Idris Wada on Transport. In an interview with Peoples Daily, the expert in dredging has this to say, ‘’The dredging being embarked upon by the Federal government is a very laudable project and it is supposed to open the waterway especially the river Niger for carriage of goods from the port in the south to the hinterland as far as to Baro. The dredging should have been preceded, ideally, by development of river ports at the appropriate locations. We planned a port for Idah, Lokoja and Baro in the North. Dredging is a very capital intensive project. As laudable as it is you have to carry out a lot of survey before you carry out the exercise so that you know the amount of dredging to be undertaken.

That will guide you in the award of the contract. Capital dredging takes about six months to carry out and a port takes you about three years to develop. That is why it is better to undertake the development of the port before the commencement of the capital dredging. What has been done actually is like putting the cat before the horse. It is now that they are embarking on the development of the ports and the capital dredging has been done. You have to do every year maintenance to maintain the channel with a dept. This is what is being done right now. From What I have seen in Lokoja here, I have not seen any dredging undertaken because what they were doing was pumping sand back into the water. Ideally, what they should have done was to lay the pipe from the dredger to the land and pump the sand unto the land. That is when you have accomplished dredging. This has not been done anywhere.

In my own opinion, I have seen that some

places cannot be dredged. Go beyond Jamata Bridge and see the area there. A lot of dredging and some river training work have to be carried out before you can make any proper channel for carriage of goods from the ports to the hinterland. If this is done this will ease a lot of traffic which is going on the already over used roads. What we envisaged in the past was to carry coken coal from the port to Ajaokuta because Ajaokuta blast furnace is designed to use coken coal which we don’t have in Nigeria. It is supposed to be imported from United Kingdom and this was why we built the river port at Ajaokuta. Unfortunately the thing has not taken off so that the dredging would have helped Ajaokuta steel too. I will implore the federal government to actually carry out complete dredging and carry out necessary river training programme to ensure the navigability of the water up to Baro as has been planned so that our roads will be rid of heavy trucks that carry goods from the ports to the North by road’’ .

In his own opinion, Honorable Bako Shigaba one time Chairman, Bassa Local government and now the Special Adviser to Governor Idris Wada on Local Government Affairs said, ‘’ the positive impacts of the dredging outweighs the negative impacts. The dredging will enhance commercial activities because it enables the movement of goods and services through the river Niger to the affected states most especially Lokoja and beyond. I am optimistic that the end result of the dredging exercise will stimulate job opportunities first to the indigenes of the affected states and secondly the country as a whole. Government will open river ports in strategic locations along the River Niger thereby creating job opportunities while others may be self employed due to level of interaction that the socio-economic activities will stimulate among the people. When put into use, the river will reduce vehicular traffic on the highways and subsequently minimize road mishaps that have left sour memories on the walls on the minds of many Nigerians. It is agreed that it will become more convenient

for people to resort to transporting goods and services through the water which is comparatively less clustered, cheaper and cost effective than the road. I therefore called on both the Federal and state governments especially the states affected and business magnates with deep pockets to take advantage of the dredged river and commit their resources to marine transport to facilitate government objective of creating an alternative source of transport to Nigerians using Nigerian waterways’’.

The views of Barrister Williams Aliwo while commenting on the dredged river Niger with Peoples Daily Weekend are somewhat similar to those expressed by the Special Adviser to the governor. Barrister Aliwo expressed his optimism that ‘’a functionally dredged river Niger will diversify transport sector of the economy in the country. Similar benefits enjoyed by big cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt will accrue to towns with river ports along the river Niger even with spill over effects on other sectors of the economy and the hinterland. It becomes incumbent on governments that are worth their salt to patronize the river transport because it is cheaper and less hazardous ‘’, he said.

While giving his own reaction to the dredged river Niger, a Journalist Mr. Friday Idachaba of News Agency of Nigeria said,’’ Actually the concept of dredging the river is a good one and a welcome one at that because it has numerous advantages. One of such advantages is the river port in Lokoja because barges and ships will bring in goods and if the river Niger is not dredged well, the barges will not be able to sail on the river. So the idea is a good one but my quarrel with it is the problem of maintenance dredging which lapsed three weeks ago. It should be a continuous exercise because if the rain continues to fall, the river bed will swell up. The sand that was dredged out will certainly go back in and eventually the dredged part will be covered up again. So there was need for sustained dredging of the river at interval so that it could be navigable at any time of the year.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17

News

— SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Nigeria will not disintegrate, says IBB at 72 From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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ormer military president, General Ibrahim Babangida has dismissed insinuations by some external forces that the country may disintegrate on or before 2015, saying that doom cannot happen in one or three months.

Said he . ‘’I know we are not From Mustapha Maiduguri

Isah

Kwaru,

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t least 11 persons were killed on Thursday night when suspected Boko Haram insurgents invaded Damboa town, headquarters of Damboa local governnent council of Borno state, security sources and residents of the area who fled to Maiduguri told newsmen yesterday.

The latest spate of violence came after last Sunday’s deadly attack in Konduga local government area of Borno state, where suspected insurgents stormed several mosques and killed 50 persons.

The attackers, comprising of suspected foreign mercenaries had reportedly stormed the area and shot everyone at sight.

The incident was reportedly seen as areprisal by the militant group who recently visited their anger on innocent civilians for allegedly ‘conniving’ with youth vigilante volunteer group in hunting their fleeing colleagues.

It was gathered that the invaders who were over 50, had emerged from the nearby bush, surrounded the town and divided themselves into seperate groups before, storming a popular joint shooting sporadically into a crowd.

going to disintegrate, it is an opinion of some individual and I beg you the media should not give it a space’’.

General Babangida fielded questions from members of the Correspondent Chapel of the Niger state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists [NUJ] yesterday at his hilltop residence in Minna, the Niger state as a pre-

birthday interactive session with newsmen.

He said ‘’forget about Nigeria’s disintegration, I cannot see it happening, if a country is to disintegrate, it is not what will happen in one month or in two months.’’ Adding that ‘’ majority of the people of the country believe in the unity of the nation.

Babangida, therefore urged

media practitioners in the country to avoid giving prominence in their reportage as that would have more effect on the nation.

According to the former military president, ‘’Nigeria after 53 years of independence cannot afford to disunite because it has overcome many challenges, the struggle for independence, , struggle to stabilize the polity

Gunmen kill 11 in fresh Borno attack A resident of the area who fled to Maiduguri, Modu Shettima disclosed that the assailants attacked the town in a convoy of nine Golf salon cars and motorcycles.

Shettima explained that there was heavy gunfire from the insurgents who also targeted police and military formations which forced the residents to vacate their houses and sought refuge in nearby farms and bushes.

“The attackers went to Damboa around 8pm and laid siege till around 12am. They divided themselves into three groups. One of the groups confronted the police, the other confronted the military and the third group waylaid the civilian population and burnt many houses,” he said.

“The good news is that the youth vigilantes defied the superior power of the attackers because they confronted them squarely.

Though almost all the youth only have daggers, ,knives and machete, they appear sophisticated and well charmed because gun bullets cannot penetrate most of them”, the resident further claimed.

Another witness said there are

aliens among the attackers. “They spoke Arabic fluently and they came with sophisticated guns and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

They threw many of the explosives into shops and buildings,” he said.

“For now, it is a sector that people just see as a place to make money; and if you make money out of it; from the public servant to the contractors; there is no way, no magic that you can get results from this type of behaviour, and then Nigerians will not get electricity.

“When you start something today, tomorrow you do a different thing; the next day you are busy jumping to another thing; next tomorrow you are changing contractors; and the next day you are doing probe and accusing yourself.

“That is the confusion; our inability to have a very clearly defined programme and policy that would get us electricity; because there is too much corruption; as every step and point in the entire process is people who make money and continue to benefit from it.

“It has stunted the development and the entire initiative in our effort to address the problem, because we have found ourselves in web of corruption, selfishness, inefficiency, incompetence and insensitivity to the suffering of our people.

“But we need quality people; you need leaders, who are understanding and who will do an honest job; who will ensure that those who are working under them would do honest job too; who will

be able to bring competent and quality people that will be able to do the job.

“Not those who simply because are close to you; your friends or you want to do favours to others; a leader who will not pick contractors simply because they are close to you or you just want them to make money.

“But I believe when we have a quality and honest leadership; that knows what it is doing; assemble all these people, do things honestly, fairly and properly, according to rules and regulations; that’s abiding by what the law says, do things without any selfish interest, follow it professionally, you will solve the problem of power in our country.

“There is so much confusion in the whole thing; if you asked them today what exactly they have achieved so far? Chances are that no one would tell you exactly what it is.

Today they would say that they are building power project; tomorrow they would say they will sell it, next tomorrow people who are close to them will sell it; and next day they are trying to build another one or going another direction.

“Continuous confusion; and no coherence; no clearly defined programme and policies; they change the laws and continuously they are trying to re-change

Sources said the insurgents reportedly faced stiff resistance from Borno youth volunteer vigilante groups (civilian JTF) who also killed one of the insurgents, injured many and captured one

after independence and the civil war.’’

General Babangida commended his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of the few Nigerians who believe in the unity of the country. ‘’ My boss OBJ is one person who believe in the unity of this country, that you can not take away from him’’. alive.

Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) Lt. Col. Sagir Musa could not be reached for comment as at press time.

However, a security source confirmed the incident, saying “more troops have been dispatched to the area to confront the insurgents

Cultural troupe from Plateau state performing, during the celebration of Nigerian women rally for Peace and Empowerment, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Jonathan’s govt is confused- Ribadu

By Stanley Onyekwere

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ormer chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and chieftain of the newly registered All progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu has said that there is so much confusion in efforts toward addressing epileptic power supply in the country by President Goodluck Jonthan’s administration and other successive regimes under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ribadu who was the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 2011 general elections made this assertion in an exclusive interview with Peoples Daily Weekend.

He said, corruption has affected the entire process of reforming the power sector, with one PDP administration starting the process while another would come, condemn and start a new process.

According to him: “We do not have electricity; even though so much money have been spent in that sector, up till now the complaint is out there that people are really in darkness. And it has affected everything from industries, schools, hospitals, and even security”.

Malam Nuhu Ribadu them again everyday as if the entire process is not about policy implementation”, he said.

On the performance of the PDP government since 1999, in terms of providing infrastructure and good governance to Nigerians, he said; “there is no doubt that we have not

achieved much since the coming of this administration. So the PDP has failed, and there is no doubt about it.”

Read full interview in next week’s edition of the Peoples Daily Saturday & Sunday.

Cover

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

2015: Who confronts

By Patrick Andrew, Abubakar Ibrahim, Lawrence Olaoye, Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Umar Puma

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or over a year, the political discourse in Nigeria has revolved around the second term chances of President Goodluck Jonathan to the extent that a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Cyriacus Njoku sued him seeking court interpretation on whether by virtue of his second oath of office, he is eligible to run for another term of office.

The big question is if the President formally throws his cap in the ring on the platform of the PDP, how prepared is the opposition to wrest power from him and the ruling party in 2015?

Also, which candidate is better equipped to confront the President, especially from the northern part of the country where there have been sustained agitations for power shift?

For Jonathan, the coast became clearer in March when an FCT court presided over by Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi ruled that Jonathan’s assumption of office after the demise of former President Umaru Yar’Adua was in line with the National Assembly’s doctrine of necessity and not winning any by-election conducted after Yar’adua’s death.

Oniyangi said: “After the death of Umaru Yar’adua, there was no election or by-election,

Jonathan?

President Jonathan was merely asked to assume the office of the President in line with the doctrine of necessity. He was not elected as the President but was made to assume office by virtue of Yar’adua’s death.

“Having exhausted the late President’s tenure, he sought for his party’s ticket and ran for the office of the President successfully in the 2011 general elections. He is therefore currently serving his first tenure of office, and if he so wishes he is eligible to further seek his party’s ticket through the party’s primary election and to run for office in 2015.”

With time, pundits began to conclude from the pronouncements of Jonathan’s aides and the behaviour of the party that indeed, the President intends to run. The first salvo confirming the move, was fired by the former minister of aviation and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women’s leader, Mrs. Kema Chikwe amidst hot and cold bursts by the South-south’s arrowhead, Chief Edwin Clark and threats from presidential aide, Kingsley Kuku as well as former Niger Delta militant, Mujahid Asari Dokubo.

The polity got warmer with a reminder by the Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, that Jonathan had earlier signed an agreement zoning the office to the North after a term. Corollary to this, came the hype over the Obasanjo-backed Lamido/Amaechi aspira-

tions for the post that has clinically pushed the PDP to a hyper mode towards restructuring its apparatus perceivably for Jonathan’s ambition. It began with the choice of chairman of the party which went to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in a consensus reached within the confines of the Presidential Villa to the chagrin of party stalwarts especially the powerful state governors who preferred their own candidate. More shakeups followed with the sacking of the Mijinyawa Kugama-led Adamawa state exco of the PDP tied to Governor Nyako for the Joel Madaki group loyal to Tukur.

But by the time the superstructure in the party’s line of control-the Nigerian Governors Forum- became turn apart ostensibly for the president’s 2015 aims, the egg was broken.

While the PDP is attempting to cut its governors to size apparently because of the powers they have over delegates to conventions and party primaries, some of them from the North namely Governors Rabiu Musa kwankwaso of Kano, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger and Sule Lamido of Jigawa state broke ranks from their colleagues following a contentious NGF election that returned Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as its chairman by 19 votes to 16 garnered by Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang.

The recalcitrant governors are poised by their actions, to reaffirm the party’s zoning arrangement meant to ensure political justice.

Besides that, there are indications that, a lot of factors besides zoning, are pushing the nation’s political stakeholders to seek a replacement for President Jonathan. s it were, the nation is already expectant of a possible Sule Lamido/Rotimi Amaechi challenge to Jonathan at the primaries but wide consultations being made by the five renegade governors (now swelled to six by Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed of Kwara state) with former presidents, heads of state and vice presidents, has opened the possibility of more hopefuls joining the race. Before now, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of PDP has been in the news since former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida urged him to go for “higher office”. And lately, speculations are rife that the former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma.

In the PDP, former vice president Atiku Abubakar is touted to re-run; Senate President David Mark and Governor Kwankwaso are strong contenders while vice president Mu-

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Cover 7 hammad Namadi Sambo may rely on a gamechanger to determine his entry. For now, he will want to remain a loyal ‘handbag’ to the president. Other likely contenders are the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau and one-time Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasiru Ahmed el-Rufai.

Though internal party consultations and processes would prune down the number of aspirants, what remains clear at the moment, is that the registration of the new mega-party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the political temperature to a new level. As earlier noted, certain factors, some of them political and economic and diplomatic, would have emboldened these aspirants to join the fray.

It would be recalled that at every presidential election since, aspirants had surfaced to challenge incumbents, only to concede in the long run after concerted horse-trading and back-pats but from the beginning of Jonathan’s first term, the southwest family of the PDP had axe to grind with him over appointments. Former President Ousegun Obasanjo had tried in vain to get Mulikat Akande to the House of Representative speakership and is particularly irked at his inability to walk the talk on party matters. He has repeatedly of late, openly criticized Jonathan’s economic policies, corruption, dearth of infrastructure and his approach to insecurity.

Obasanjo’s frustration led to his resignation from the chairmanship of PDP Board of Trustees. Analysts also see his tacit endorsement of Governor Lamido for presidency as sign of irreconcilable difference with Jonathan who is also arrayed against those who see the First Lady’s meddlesomeness in Rivers State politics as epitome of presidential weakness.

On the diplomatic front, the president has to struggle with how to manage the aftermath of the Libyan crisis which saw Nigeria backing the UN no-fly zone resolution to the anger of most African leaders who have since then seen to the failure of every Nigeria’s move at the international fora. The blunders, analysts believe, has caused North Africa and Nigeria more in the Boko Haram crisis going by the level of sophisticated arms being smuggled from Libya to the insurgents. Furthermore, the core establishment elite have at some points, been angered by the president’s “embarrassment” of the country when he failed to address major gatherings he attended abroad due to unexplained reasons, the latest being in an AU high level meeting in Ethiopia where Obasanjo was present.

However, the president is still optimistic that through his carrot and stick policy of bipartisan consultations as well as ostracisation of opponents, he can still navigate through the rough tidal waves within his own party and gain the confidence of political and social groups.

Recall that the president’s message for the 2011 general elections was largely spread through most of the 58 registered ‘briefcase’ parties and youth organisations formed overnight as well as civil society organisations and relevant institutions of government.

Possible aspirants at a glance General TY Danjuma: As Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Danjuma declined to be Head of State and almost single-handedly enthroned Obasanjo in 1976.

He championed Obasanjo’s return in 1999 by financing his campaign with approximately N800 million. Danjuma also vowed to go on exile if Obasanjo did not win. He served in Obasanjo’s presidency on self-recognition.

Strength: His military record, philanthropic work and donations to charity stands him out.

The General is being produced as a trump card against Jonathan should the religious emotion that counted for the president is seen to play any major role again in the light of the quest to unite Nigerians once.

Weakness: Though highly respected, he is

Chances: His prospect remains bright if the current crises in PDP subsist. This also depends largely on the cooperation of APC voters in the Southwest. The south-east where votes are mostly more than registered voters may still remain a cog.

Nuhu Ribadu

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Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso seen to be much more apolitical and has little touch with the larger political community. Age is also not in his favour as by 2015, he would be in his late 70s.

Chances: Hailing from Takum in Taraba state of the Middle-Belt, Danjuma is a Christian from the area whose influence can snatch the religious communities’ votes Jonathan badly needs at this time. He is well respected in the North, and could be a rallying point when the chips are down.

General Muhammadu Buhari

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fter much speculation, he has declared his intention to run for president again.

This will be his fifth contest against Obasanjo, the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua and current President Jonathan. The former petroleum minister under General Obasanjo’s military government (1976-1979), Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under the Gen Sani Abacha rule and presidential candidate of the APP, ANPP and CPC is roundly acknowledged to have had a successful public service life and unblemished record of incorruptibility.

Strength: The tall, fiery and ascetic General from Daura in Katsina State, indisputably commands massive followership in large parts of the North and will still rely on that strength coupled with the wide outreach the new APC has to help him this time around.

Weakness: Buhari is still being tarred with the dark brush of lack of compromise which he has in recent times rejected through his frequent fraternal touch with friends and associates. However, he still has to contend with the current political environment especially after the 2011 post-election violence. The younger generation sees him as a bit old for the job now.

e was erstwhile chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) notorious for the indictment of highly placed politicians and technocrats during the Obasanjo civilian regime. The ex-AIG was dismissed controversially from the police in circumstances connected to his job at the EFCC but officially retired eventually by the Jonathan administration. This gave him the political pedigree to stand as the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria presidential candidate in 2011.

Strength: At 53, he is in the range of ebullient leaders imbued with knowledge of the current generation of Nigerians and will leverage on his no-nonsense posture against corruption.

Weakness: Chances are that his opponents might hammer negatively on his role at the EFCC. Whether it will have any effect remains to be seen.

Chances: He cuts across as a bi-partisan and young politician who will be electable across religious and party lines. His age and courage will be his selling point.

Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

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urrently, the governor of Kano state but a politician who has never hidden his ambition to become the nation’s President by 2015. Kwankwaso, who is currently enjoying national accolades due to his sterling performance in all areas of life in one of the most populous states in the federation, is at the head of his game. He is one of the five northern governors currently on consultation tours to critical stakeholders in the country over the way forward for the nation and their party, the PDP. Kwankwaso, a second term governor in Kano state obviously possesses all requisite credentials to govern the country owing to his administrative competence and achievements. He is also having the backings of some stakeholders, especially from the north. The only snag however is that it may be difficult for him to get the PDP ticket should President Jonathan insists on having a second term.

This is even more so when he has severally declared that he would not leave the ruling party.

Ibrahim Shekarau

S

hekarau, a former governor of Kano state, the former czar of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Presidential candidate of the party, has consistently eyed the Presidency after his two

“

Though internal party consultations and processes would prune down the number of aspirants, what remains clear at the moment, is that the registration of the new mega-party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the political temperature to a new level.

term tenure.

Shekarau, who is now a kingpin in the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC), could be a candidate on the platform of the party. He is an experienced administrator and a respected leader from the North western part of the country.

Some prominent politicians on the platform of the opposition APC are rooting for his candidature in 2015 but he may face a Herculean hurdle in getting the Presidential ticket of the APC considering the arrays of personalities that would be vying for the slot.

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

H

e is currently the Speaker of he House of Representatives and one of the foremost politicians being considered as a candidate to face Jonathan at the 2015 Presidential election.

Tambuwal, who is currently occupying the number four position in the nation’s official hierarchy, from Sokoto state, is on the front burner of those being considered for the Presidency. His pro-people’s stance at the parliament and his ability to manage the centrifugal and centripetal forces in the House, considering the multifarious composition of the institution, stands him out.

The Speaker who became the Speaker of the House in defiance to the opposition of his party, PDP, has become the darling of the political elites across the country. His politics knows no border as he fraternizes with people irrespective of their political leanings.

Tambuwal is being touted as the possible compromise candidate of the newly registered APC because of his age and experience in human management. His promoters are priding him with his dexterity in managing 360 members of the House for over two consecutive years without stepping on the proverbial ‘banana peels’; a feat rare in the management of radical members of the Green Chambers.

Although the Speaker has been tipped as the possible replacement of the Sokoto state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who would be serving out his second term by 2015, there are indications that he may be dragged to contest the Presidency on the platform of the APC. He is an acceptable candidate who had succeeded in building enough political bridges across party line in the country. His relative youthfulness and repository knowledge of human relations and management are rare attributes found in modern day politician and this has endeared him to all and sundry nationwide. His candidature would give Jonathan a run for his money.

Mallam Nasir El Rufai

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ormer Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is also being considered as a possible candidate on the platform of the APC. His sterling performance as the FCT Minister who brought sanity into the nation’s capital in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo has singled him out as a candidate to beat.

El-Rufai is being generally viewed in the nation’s political circle as a no nonsense but radical politician who could help the nation out of the doldrums if elected the President.

He is a popular candidate across the country having exposed the corruption inherent in the running of government under the administration of his former boss in his book which attracted scathing criticisms from those he caught on the wrong side of history.

His party, APC may consider his candidature based on his relatively younger age and experience in management of humans and resources. He is expected to draw his followership mostly from the northern part of the country and in the South West as a result of the recent political rapprochement between the two re-

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Cover 8

gions.

PAGE 9

2015: Who confronts Jonathan?

principles thrive on the basic ethics of fairplay, equity and justice. He is believed to be conservatively progressive and a courageous politician who will always speak out irrespective of whose horse is gored.

The Benue born politician is a tested administrator having served as the Minister of Communication and later Minister of Power and Steel under former President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic. He earned himself respect in the Shagari’s cabinet for his famed economic frugality and financial prudence.

With the APC having resolved to zone his Presidential candidate to the north, some political watchers are of the opinion that Ogbe may be considered.

Atiku Abubakar

“

You may experience some failures along the path of life. You must never consider failure as a death sentence or an end to your striving. Failure is never the end of the road; rather it is a call to a redoubling of efforts to realize your goal. It is the test of your true mettle.

Falling down is not the problem; not getting up is. So you must always dust yourself up and stay the course. Sometimes we give up not because we failed but because success was slow in coming. You must learn to be patient. You must also avoid the lure of instant gratification. Results do not always come quick. Put in the years of hard work first, and reap the benefits later”.

That’s Atiku Abubakar’s philosophy. Indeed, the former Vice President exemplified this philosophy which he preached to a group of starry eyes secondary school graduates sometimes ago.

Since he broke into the political limelight with the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), which was led by late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua, the former senior Customs and Excise official,as a key figure of the PDM, later played influential roles in the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Abubakar’s political clout had blossomed and was cemented with his active involvement in the activities of G 34 that confronted late Gen Sanni Abacha and evntually floated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Albeit content to be governor and was actually elected on the platform of the PDP to govern Adamawa state, Atiku was selected by Obasanjo to be his running mate. His loyalty to the party and his ‘boss’ was never in doubt until he opted to vie for the number one job.

That irked Obasanjo, who reportedly had to genuflect before him in order dissuaded Atiku from hearkening to the call of some boisterous governors who wanted him to stand against Obasanjo at the PDP presidential primaries for the 2003 presidential elections.

But Atiku has never hidden his interest in the plum job- being Nigeria’s president. That pitched him against his principal Olusegun Obasanjo whose third term ambition he openly opposed during the acrimonious but failed quest for constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to take a shot at the presidency for the third time.

He contested and lost the presidential elections amid allegations of massive rigging.

However, he was accused of abandoning ship when he returned to the PDP prior to the 2011 presidential elections primaries but

Dr. Iyorchia Ayu

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Ibrahim Shekarau However, Atiku’s alleged arrogance, his decision to abandon his teeming supporters and returned to the PDP at the most inauspicious moment, The speech at the PDP primaries in Abuja, his perennial problem with members of his conservative constituents, tend to distance him from many political heavyweights and by invariably the electorates.

Besides, unconfirmed reports that he sold several companies to himself through his cronies when he headed the National Council on Privatization and National Economic Revitalization Committee and was Coordinator of all public enterprises, tend to cast aspersion on his being board in country where most leaders, rightly or wrong, are alleged to be corrupt.

David Mark

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onsidering the determination of the north to clinch the Presidency and the possibility of having a candidate from the North Central

North Central Nigeria, has been at the head of the Senate since 2007 and one of the longest serving Senator in the National Assembly, has a horde of followers across the country considering the dexterity with which he piloted the affairs of the National Assembly. He has been able to build political bridges across the country with his relationship with his colleagues over time and there are indications that he has foot soldiers across the country.

The Senate President is a seasoned administrator with a military background having retired from service a General. His candidature would be acceptable to the ruling elites including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and the former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau amongst others.

Although Mark is currently on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which seems to have resolved to reserve the Presidential ticket for the incumbent, there are indications that leaders in the north may get in into the race to square up with Jonathan by persuading him to ditch the ruling party in order to contest on alternative platform.

There are indications that some northern leaders are rooting for a Presidential candidate outside the core north and the candidature of the Senate President fits perfectly in the jig-saw. Should he be fielded against Jonathan even at the PDP primaries, the Oresident may find him a hard nut to crack.

Audu Ogbe

Mallam Nasir El Rufai was again denied the ticket to lead the PDP. In terms of political clout Atiku Abubakar commands massive followership, has significant top rated contacts across the length of breadth of Nigeria. He has strong structures and the wealth to reasonably challenge even the federal might. Even before he ventured into politics, he seats atop the boards of seven companies of his own. His humanitarian gestures; including scholarship schemes stands him out.

geo political zone to slug it out with President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, there are insinuations that the current Senate President, Senator David Bonaventure Mark, may be dragged into the race.

Although the Senate President had not formally indicated interest in honing the race, pundits believed that if it is the consensus of the north to present him to face Jonathan at the poll, he may not disappoint.

Mark, who hails from Benues state,

C

hief Audu Ogbe is the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who later left the party to join the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) now merged to form the new mega All Progressives Congress (APC). A staunch and calculating politician who entered into active politics in the Second Republic.

Ogbe, who is reputed for his excellent and uncompromissing views when it comes to sensitive national issues has also been described as a very transparent man whose

yu is a stalwart of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria from Benue state.

He has been I to active politics for quite some time and has served in several capacities.

Ayu was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs in July 200 by President Olusegun Obasanjo. During a cabinet reshuffle in June 2005, Ayu was reassigned to become Minister of Environment. He was later relieved of his position.

Although his political camp is still shrouded in controversy as he was recently rumoured to have decamped into the ruling PDP from the defunct ACN, but there is the possibility that he may be approached to give a shot at the presidency against PresidentJonathan. But, his chance is adjudged very slim.

Alhaji Sule Lamido

H

e is currently the governor of Jigawa state with a strong national appeal.

Lamido contributed immensely to the formation of the ruling PDP and has been instrumental in its sustainability in the past 14 years. Having served out his second term as the Jigawa governor, Lamido has been variously tipped as a possible candidate for the Presidential slot ahead of 2015.

Lamido recently had the backing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is considered one of the major kingmakers in the country on account of his performance as the two yet governor of Jigawa state. He is one of the prime movers of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) currently seeking registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Here are speculations that the Jigawa governor maybe considered as thePresidential candidate of the yet to be registered PDM if the PDP refuses his aspiration on the platform of the ruling party.

Lamido, a former National Secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), is a quintessential politician with reaches across the country, is a formidable candidate that could give Jonathan a run for his money.

Having been endorsed by the former President with several stakeholders with and without the ruling party.

Several governors, currently on the platform of the PDP, are rooting for his Presidency come 2015. Lamido is equally on the board the five northern governors on the platform of the PDP currently engaging in national consultations on the way forward for the country.

This singular action had endeared him to some discerning stakeholders especially with the clamor for return of power back to the north. Given the opportunity with unanimous support from the stakeholders from the north, Lamido has the capacity to remove he caroe from under the feet of the incumbent.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17

News

— SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Nigeria will not disintegrate, says IBB at 72 From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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ormer military president, General Ibrahim Babangida has dismissed insinuations by some external forces that the country may disintegrate on or before 2015, saying that doom cannot happen in one or three months.

Said he . ‘’I know we are not From Mustapha Maiduguri

Isah

Kwaru,

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t least 11 persons were killed on Thursday night when suspected Boko Haram insurgents invaded Damboa town, headquarters of Damboa local governnent council of Borno state, security sources and residents of the area who fled to Maiduguri told newsmen yesterday.

The latest spate of violence came after last Sunday’s deadly attack in Konduga local government area of Borno state, where suspected insurgents stormed several mosques and killed 50 persons.

The attackers, comprising of suspected foreign mercenaries had reportedly stormed the area and shot everyone at sight.

The incident was reportedly seen as areprisal by the militant group who recently visited their anger on innocent civilians for allegedly ‘conniving’ with youth vigilante volunteer group in hunting their fleeing colleagues.

It was gathered that the invaders who were over 50, had emerged from the nearby bush, surrounded the town and divided themselves into seperate groups before, storming a popular joint shooting sporadically into a crowd.

going to disintegrate, it is an opinion of some individual and I beg you the media should not give it a space’’.

General Babangida fielded questions from members of the Correspondent Chapel of the Niger state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists [NUJ] yesterday at his hilltop residence in Minna, the Niger state as a pre-

birthday interactive session with newsmen.

He said ‘’forget about Nigeria’s disintegration, I cannot see it happening, if a country is to disintegrate, it is not what will happen in one month or in two months.’’ Adding that ‘’ majority of the people of the country believe in the unity of the nation.

Babangida, therefore urged

media practitioners in the country to avoid giving prominence in their reportage as that would have more effect on the nation.

According to the former military president, ‘’Nigeria after 53 years of independence cannot afford to disunite because it has overcome many challenges, the struggle for independence, , struggle to stabilize the polity

Gunmen kill 11 in fresh Borno attack A resident of the area who fled to Maiduguri, Modu Shettima disclosed that the assailants attacked the town in a convoy of nine Golf salon cars and motorcycles.

Shettima explained that there was heavy gunfire from the insurgents who also targeted police and military formations which forced the residents to vacate their houses and sought refuge in nearby farms and bushes.

“The attackers went to Damboa around 8pm and laid siege till around 12am. They divided themselves into three groups. One of the groups confronted the police, the other confronted the military and the third group waylaid the civilian population and burnt many houses,” he said.

“The good news is that the youth vigilantes defied the superior power of the attackers because they confronted them squarely.

Though almost all the youth only have daggers, ,knives and machete, they appear sophisticated and well charmed because gun bullets cannot penetrate most of them”, the resident further claimed.

Another witness said there are

aliens among the attackers. “They spoke Arabic fluently and they came with sophisticated guns and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

They threw many of the explosives into shops and buildings,” he said.

“For now, it is a sector that people just see as a place to make money; and if you make money out of it; from the public servant to the contractors; there is no way, no magic that you can get results from this type of behaviour, and then Nigerians will not get electricity.

“When you start something today, tomorrow you do a different thing; the next day you are busy jumping to another thing; next tomorrow you are changing contractors; and the next day you are doing probe and accusing yourself.

“That is the confusion; our inability to have a very clearly defined programme and policy that would get us electricity; because there is too much corruption; as every step and point in the entire process is people who make money and continue to benefit from it.

“It has stunted the development and the entire initiative in our effort to address the problem, because we have found ourselves in web of corruption, selfishness, inefficiency, incompetence and insensitivity to the suffering of our people.

“But we need quality people; you need leaders, who are understanding and who will do an honest job; who will ensure that those who are working under them would do honest job too; who will

be able to bring competent and quality people that will be able to do the job.

“Not those who simply because are close to you; your friends or you want to do favours to others; a leader who will not pick contractors simply because they are close to you or you just want them to make money.

“But I believe when we have a quality and honest leadership; that knows what it is doing; assemble all these people, do things honestly, fairly and properly, according to rules and regulations; that’s abiding by what the law says, do things without any selfish interest, follow it professionally, you will solve the problem of power in our country.

“There is so much confusion in the whole thing; if you asked them today what exactly they have achieved so far? Chances are that no one would tell you exactly what it is.

Today they would say that they are building power project; tomorrow they would say they will sell it, next tomorrow people who are close to them will sell it; and next day they are trying to build another one or going another direction.

“Continuous confusion; and no coherence; no clearly defined programme and policies; they change the laws and continuously they are trying to re-change

Sources said the insurgents reportedly faced stiff resistance from Borno youth volunteer vigilante groups (civilian JTF) who also killed one of the insurgents, injured many and captured one

after independence and the civil war.’’

General Babangida commended his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of the few Nigerians who believe in the unity of the country. ‘’ My boss OBJ is one person who believe in the unity of this country, that you can not take away from him’’. alive.

Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) Lt. Col. Sagir Musa could not be reached for comment as at press time.

However, a security source confirmed the incident, saying “more troops have been dispatched to the area to confront the insurgents

Cultural troupe from Plateau state performing, during the celebration of Nigerian women rally for Peace and Empowerment, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Jonathan’s govt is confused- Ribadu

By Stanley Onyekwere

F

ormer chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and chieftain of the newly registered All progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu has said that there is so much confusion in efforts toward addressing epileptic power supply in the country by President Goodluck Jonthan’s administration and other successive regimes under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ribadu who was the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 2011 general elections made this assertion in an exclusive interview with Peoples Daily Weekend.

He said, corruption has affected the entire process of reforming the power sector, with one PDP administration starting the process while another would come, condemn and start a new process.

According to him: “We do not have electricity; even though so much money have been spent in that sector, up till now the complaint is out there that people are really in darkness. And it has affected everything from industries, schools, hospitals, and even security”.

Malam Nuhu Ribadu them again everyday as if the entire process is not about policy implementation”, he said.

On the performance of the PDP government since 1999, in terms of providing infrastructure and good governance to Nigerians, he said; “there is no doubt that we have not

achieved much since the coming of this administration. So the PDP has failed, and there is no doubt about it.”

Read full interview in next week’s edition of the Peoples Daily Saturday & Sunday.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

News

SOSG announces 6,500 monthly allowances

By Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto

S

L-R: Hon. Ugwuani Ifeanyi, Dr. Akilu Indabawa and Hon. Tijani Kikawa Ibrahim at the Peoples Democratic Party reconciliation Committee meeting in Abuja recently.

Photo: Miriam Humbe

Nigeria to adopt biodegradable plastic materials soon, says Minister

By Patrick Andrew

P

lastic materials imported and manufactured in Nigeria will be made biodegradable, the Minister of Environment said in Abuja at a workshop organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment in conjunction with Abu and Sons Inc. USA with the theme: ‘Better ways of handling plastic materials in Nigeria’.

Represented by the director, pollution control and environment health in the ministry, Mrs O. O. Babade, the minister said, “The federal government has pilot projects on the best ways of han-

dling plastic materials to make them environment-friendly.

“This project is relevant because it is the best way of preserving our environment. Some floods are caused by improper disposal of these non-degradable materials, but with this, it will reduce drastically.”

Guest speaker Jeff Tibbo of the Environmental Products Inc., Canada, said, “The project makes use of additives which convert regular polymer plastics into degradable plastics. We work directly with manufacturers to ensure that their products comply with the system.”

The Canadian deputy commissioner to Nigeria, Marcello DiFranco, said Canada and Nigeria have excellent relationship with trading worth over 3 billion dollars.

“Canada is at the forefront in green technologies. Nigeria government should mandate the use of oxo-bio-degradable additives in all plastic films imported or manufactured in the country,” he said.

Mr Abumere Orujie, representing Abu and Sons Inc. USA, said non-disposable plastics are dangerous to the health and environment. According to him, using bio-degradable plastics promotes

good health and makes environment safe.

“EPI Canada will assist in training on the usage of these additives. Existing plastic industries in Nigeria will be required to use additives to make their products degradable. Additives are capable of making plastic materials degrade within six months.”

Barr Tanimu Adamson, former attorney general of Nasarawa state government, and director, Mineral for Life Table Water, Keffi, said the workshop came at the right time as non-degradable plastic materials cause floods by blocking drainages.

INEC registers pro-Atiku’s PDM, ID

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday made a U turn from its earlier statement and registered two new political parties, among which is the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), believed to be promoted by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The other political party which the commission registered was the Independent Democrats (ID).

A statement issued by the commission said the registration of the two parties were in accordance with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and the 2010 Electoral

Act as amended.

The commission said the logos, constitution, manifestos, flags and lists of members of the interim National Executive Council of the each of the parties have been approved by the commission.

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that Atiku Abubakar, had been protesting that he is not getting his entitlements in the current arrangement in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former Vice President, who was the major contender to the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 PDP primaries, has insisted that he remains a member of the ruling party, but pointed out that nothing prevents his political allies from registering any political as-

sociation.

It was reported earlier that the former Vice President, in alliance with some nine aggrieved northern governors, including Aliyu Babangida, Magatakadar

Wamako, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Chibuike Amaech, Murtala Nyako, among others, are ploting to float the PDM, through which Atiku intends to contest the 2015 Presidential elections.

okoto State Government has announced N6,500 monthly allowance for each destitute residing in the state as part of effort to eradicate begging in Sokot, the seat of the caliphate and its environs.

The initiative was introduced by Governor Wammakko administration from inception in 2007 to date.

The Special Adviser on Human Rights, NGO’s and Donor Agencies in the state, Alhaji Sahabi Dange, who made this known while declaring open a two-day workshop on leadership and peace held in Kebbe Local Government Council of the state yesterday.

The state government has also renewed its determinations towards improving the welfare of physically challenged persons in the state.

Alhaji Dange, said the present administration has expanded resources aimed at improving the welfare of less privileged persons in the society.

He said: “Magatakarda Administration is today caring, as less privileged in the society are among the beneficiaries of his programme which today has gone way forwards in eradicating poverty, menace of street begging, so well that the whole 23 local government areas were also included in benefiting from the good gesture of the governor. “Our determination is still on course, and at the level we gone, by the grace of God, we will gain fruitful result”.

Although, the turn out of the destitute in the last couple of years was impressive, most of them refuse to leave street begging. Some are unwilling to learn handcrafts at centers established to promote self employment.

President Jonathan mourns Jigawa Deputy Speaker

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commiserated with the family of the Deputy Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Inuwa Sule Udi, the Speaker, members of the Assembly and the government and people of Jigawa State over the death of the Deputy Speaker in a ghastly car accident on Thursday.

The President, who expressed shock at the death which he described as “very painful and untimely,” said Jigawa State and the nation would miss legislative experience of Udi, a third-term member of the State House of Assembly.

Jonathan also prayed that God Almighty would console members of the Udi family and grant the soul of the departed lawmaker peaceful rest.

IBB’s leadership quality evergreen —Mark

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Senate President, David Mark, has described the leadership quality of former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, as a permanent reference point in the history of contemporary Nigeria.

In a message to mark Babangida’s attainment of 72 years of

age, Mark also observed through his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, that “General Babangida’s goodwill cut across ethnic and religious boundaries. He remain a true statesman and a nationalist who believe in one indivisible, united, peaceful and progressive Nigeria.”

He also commended Babangida for remaining steadfast and

always making his rich knowledge and wealth of experience available to the new generation of leaders.

The senate president therefore prayed God to grant Babangida good health, wisdom and courage, such that the present and future leaders continue to draw from his fountain of experience and knowledge in the task of moving the nation forward.

News Page 11

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 11 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

N220bn small enterprises fund: CBN, stakeholders push for moveable collaterals

By Abdulwahab Isa

A

doption of moveable collaterals as one of the criteria for accessing Central Bank of Nigeria’s N200 billion Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) has been endorsed by participants of the 7th Annual MSMEs finance conference and D-8 workshop on microfinance.

The apex bank had on Thursday announced N220 billion new credit line to stimulate Small and Mediumscale Enterprises (SME) sector.

The decision was part of the resolutions adopted yesterday by participants at the 7th Annual MSMEs while drawing curtain on the 2 day annual conference.

After thorough evaluation of performances of small

businesses; experts and stakeholders at a rounding up session agreed that lack of access to finance remains the greatest obstacle to the growth of micro and small enterprises.

Confirming the view points of the participants yesterday to journalists, Deputy Governor(monitoring Policy), Dr. Serah Alade said deliberations of participants center on lack of access to finance, including other inhibitive factors .

“They expressed their views and generally it was agreed there is lack of access to finance. They like to see things like collaterals relaxation by banks and we also shared the experiences of other countries that have made success in Microfinance especially Indonesia who has recorded huge success in this area. We

also discussed issue of regulation and CBN I must tell you, is deeply looking at this”, she said.

Corroborating the Deputy Governor’s views on resolutions arrived at by the participants, CBN Director (Department Finance) Mr. Paul Eluhaiwe told journalists collateral for entrepreneurs to access fund was looked at.

According to him “we want to use moveable collaterals to be used from next year for accessing the funds and this is a critical condition to adopt if the sector must move forward”.

Central Bank Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had announced to stakeholders and participants on Thursday the lunching of N220 billion micro and small enterprises fund aimed at boosting the businesses of the

informal sector of the economy.

He said the fund is “designed to provide wholesale financing windows for participating financial institutions (PFIs); Improve the capacity of the PFIs to meet credit needs of MSMEs; Provide funds at reduced cost to PFIs; enhance access of women entrepreneurs to finance by allocating 60 per cent of the Fund to them; and Improve access of NGOs/MFIs to finance”.

The fund to be given to the participating financial institutions (PFI) at 9 % interest rate Sanusi said, should be seen as stimulus for addressing financing gaps aimed at stirring the market dynamics towards MSME development.

Nigeria, said Sanusi, had about 17.6 million MSMEs in 2012 employing about 32.4

million people and contributing about 46.54 per cent of nominal GDP. He said a recent survey by IFC and Mckinsey (2010) also lent credence that 80 per cent of these MSMEs were excluded from the financial markets.

Other constraints plaguing the MSME sub-sector in Nigeria include infrastructure deficit (especially, power and transport), policy inconsistencies, bureaucracy, multiple taxation and levies, weak intellectual property protection and contract enforcement, and insecurity”.

The 7th annual micro finance seminar had in attendance, members of D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey).

Biotechnology is panacea to agric, medical, industrial challenges —DG

B

iotechnology has been described as a tool for solving global agricultural, medical, and industrial challenges.

The Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof.

Bamidele Solomon, expressed this opinion in Abuja recently.

Solomon spoke at a twoday Training on Biotechnology organised by the Biodiversity and Climate Research Group of Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) in Kwali, FCT. He said that biotechnology tools were handy in agriculture, food science, and environmental science in the industry, forestry, basic sciences, mining, medical, veterinary medicines and the sciences. :Biotechnology provides solution to most agriculture, medical and industrial challenges facing the world today.

“If biotechnology were human, it will be a young person because

it is sharp, intelligent, quick, resourceful, and almost always on point. Biotechnology is the future. ``We should think biotechnology, talk biotechnology and eat biotechnology.’’

Solomon said the application of biotechnology in agriculture would protect crops from diseases, control pest, drought and promote flood resistant crops with nutrient supplements.

He added it would also ensure quality crop production and enhanced and sustainable food production.

He said biotechnology could be used for the removal of allergens and the improvement of safety as well as the provision of more nutritious foods for the populace.

“The application in medicine: we have new medicines, cheaper medicines, new vaccines and designer medicines coming up.

Now, the Generic Modified (GM) model we use today for human is safer and of course cheaper.

Jonathan hails IBB at 72

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday conveyed assurances of his high esteem and warm personal regards to General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) on the occasion of the former President’s 72nd birthday anniversary today.

In a congratulatory letter to General Babangida, President Jonathan praised his life of outstanding accomplishments, a press release issued by Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President(Media & Publicity) stated.

“On behalf of my family, the

Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I rejoice with you as you mark your 72nd birthday anniversary.

“I join your family, numerous friends and many well-wishers to thank Almighty God for His continued guidance, protection and provision for you in the past seventy-two years of a life of outstanding accomplishment,” President Jonathan wrote.

The President also wished General Babangida a very happy birthday and many more years of good health and personal fulfillment.

PDP Chairman Alh Bamanga Tukur exchanging pleasantries with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the wedding Fatiha of Faisal Adamu Ciroma and his bride Hafsat at Wuse II Jumu’at Mosque in Abuja on Friday.

Rain flood damage property in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

F

loods resulting from heavy rains which fell for two days in a row in Bauchi from Thursday evening till yesterday, led to serious damages in several parts of the state state just as Governor Isa Yuguda warned residents.

The floods had cut off the road linking many roads in the state capital as well as the highways in localities of the state. Most affected areas in the state are Wuntin Dada, Yelwa wunti market roads ,and railway areas.

A resident of Wunti Dada, Aminu Alhaji Ayuba said heavy floods have been common in the past few years in the state but “hav never witnessed such downpour since my stay in this area”.

Ayuba said, “We had sleepless night yesterday, you can see all my property are destroyed,the mattresses, television,look at the kitchen and you will see how we are at least making way for the water. I have evacuate my children to the neighbouring houses which were not affected most by the flood”.

Another resident who is affected said, “ This is a natural disaster cutting across this town, we are not an exception. Our house is almost submerged; we are trying to evacuate whatever we can to a temporary site. The properties we can lay our hands on we pick out, the ones we are not able to savage we leave out because life is more important than the properties and I cannot risk the lives of my children.

The extent of damage is too bad;

you can see that the whole house is submerged completely,” he said, adding that “one cannot quantify the damage in terms of Naira and kobo but we have suffered colossal loss both in material and other things “.

Following the heavy downpour, the Bauchi state governor, Malam Isa Yuguda Thursday night went round the city to ascertain the damages caused by the rain and the level of flooding in the metropolis The Bauchi State Governor then warned residents living along river basin areas to relocate to avoid further loss of lives and property.

The Governor lamented the flood disasters which have over the years,rendered many people homeless and without a source of livelihood in the country.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Crime Cycle

pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 08138559513 (SMS only)

Vandals destroy 105 PHCN distribution stations in Uyo

T

he Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has lost about 105 sub-stations to the activities of vandals in its Uyo Business District, in Akwa Ibom state, according to the Service Manager of the district, Uduma Okala.

He said that only 760 stations, out of the 865 distribution stations in the state were currently functional.

Okala, who made the disclosure in a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo, explained that the vandals took delight in removing certain components like the copper because of its value and thereafter sale cheaply in the open market.

“The vandals are more interested in the copper in the armoured cable because in the open market, the price is on the high side. The copper wire is used for ear rings and

necklace,” he said adding their greed has kept thousands of Nigerians without power supply.

“When the vandals go to a substation they chop off the feeder pillar and remove the copper; and a metre of the cable goes for N12, 000 in the market.

“Following the spate of attacks on PHCN facilities by hoodlums, we have complained to security agencies in the state for necessary assistance. WE have particularly appealed to the police to help check this menace by securing the substations for us.”

Already, Okala said the measures were paying off as the police and other security agencies have apprehended some suspects, noting that six vandals currently facing charges relating to vandalism of PHCN facilities in the district.

(NAN)

Prof. Chinedo Nebo, Minister of Power

…As police arraign 2 men for alleged battering of PHCN staff

T

wo men have appeared before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court, in Lagos over alleged battery of a staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), for attempting to disconnect their electric power supply.

Kunle Adeyemi, 22, and

Adebowale Peter, 20, who both reside at First Gate, Powerline, Ikorodu, are standing trial on a two-count charge of battery and obstruction.

According to the Prosecutor, Sgt. Iyabo Johnson, the duo battered Mr. Adeoye Temitope, on July 17 at their residence.

Man, 23, docked for allegedly stealing cosmetics

T

he police have arraigned a 23-year -old apprentice, Emmanuel Oyegbenga, before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing ladies’ cosmetics belonging to one Mrs. Lillian Ashimolowo.

Gbenga, who lives at No. 10, Ramat, St., Ogudu, Lagos and was an apprentice to the complaint, is facing a-countcharge of stealing.

Police prosecutor, Corporal Adekemi Adeniran, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 11 at No. 11, Alhaji Amao St., Ogudu, Lagos State.

“The accused was caught when a lady, Mary Ikeme, passed in front of the shop and complained that the Amingos weavon he sold to her was not as full as it should be. The complainant was compelled to take her stocks,’’ she said.

Adeniran said that four cake powder, valued at N36,000, two foundations valued at N18,000,

four lipsticks valued at N4,000, and six eye shadow valued at N10,800 were missing.

“Six lip gloss valued at N1, 200, six eye pencils N1,200, two puff powder valued at N1,200, six eye lashes valued at N1,500, one make-up box valued at N75,000, 12 weavons valued at N54,000, all totaling N186, 700 were also missing.’’

She said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the offence carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment. The accused however pleaded not guilty to the allegations against him.

The magistrate, Mrs. Oluwadamilola Olanipekun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. The court however adjourned the case to Aug.26 for hearing proper.

(NAN)

Johnson said that the duo inflicted injuries on the eyes of the PHCN worker.

She said that the PHCN staff had attempted to disconnect their residence from the power supply because of indebtedness. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 171 and 172

of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty, and were granted bail in the sum of N200, 000 and two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr. B. A. Sonuga, adjourned the case to Aug. 22 for hearing. (NAN)

Police urge public to intensify censorship on security agencies

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Mr. Frank Mba, has reiterated the importance of the civil populace in intensifying what he calls “civil oversight” to assist the enforcement of functional society.

He said there must be a strong and continuous sense of civilian censorship over the activities and conducts of the nation’s security and civil institutions, to help curb excesses.

The PRO, made this point during the week, when he featured as a guest on “Police matters”, a Nigeria Info’s radio programme, monitored in Abuja.

According to him: “Nigerians must actually call the bluff of corrupt policemen; corrupt VIO; other corrupt law enforcement agencies as well as corrupt teachers and corrupt civil servants.

“Because as a Nigerian, you must have a sense of citizenship ownership of your own police force; you must have a sense of civilian oversight. We must have a set of

citizens, who are continuously providing a sense of censorship over the activities and conducts of their police officers.”

He also asserted that, “Someone has helped us in exposing Sargeant Chris Omeleze, which has helped in breaking down what I could call the conspiracy of silence that sometimes allow the culture of impunity to thrive unabated.

“It has also shown that there is civilian oversight; and that is what helps police institutions all over the world, to function better.”

Peoples Daily Weekend recall that the said Omeleze, who had a 21-year career in the police, was dismissed after being caught on film trying to extort money from a motorist that he accused of a traffic offence.

Mba had confirmed the sack of Omeleze, 24 hours after the footage was seen on YouTube and replayed by several Nigerian television channels.

The police spokesman, who insisted the sacked police officer was working alone, said that he had only pretended to call a colleague to try to “blackmail” the motorist.

CRIME NUGGET

Facts about Area boys:

• Area boys (also known as Agberos) are loosely organized gangs of street children and teenagers, composed mostly of males (but with a few females), who roam the streets of Lagos, Nigeria.

• They extort money from passers-by, sell illegal drugs, act as informal security guards, and perform other “odd jobs” in return for compensation.

• The groups are based in Lagos Island, a Local Government Area in Lagos and the most urbanised part of Nigeria.

• Area boys, who are largely Yoruba, have existed in the city since the early 1980s. However, under various names, types of Area Boys have been traced back to the 1920s.

• In 2007, the total number of area boys in Lagos was estimated at over 35,000 by a member of the Lagos State Judiciary; as of 1996, the number of them operating on Lagos Island alone was placed around 1,000.

• A 1996 study of area boys on Lagos Island by Abubakar Momoh showed that only 26.4% of area boys were from Lagos State; Ogun State (22.6%), Kwara State (14.2%), and Oyo State (14.1%) all produced more than 10% of respondents. Most were between 12-35 years old.

• Elsewhere in Nigeria Petty criminals have been labeled as “area boys” in Ibadan, where they control informal markets and are used to advance political causes.

• In the Yankari National Park in Bauchi State, baboons have been referred to as “area boys” because of their troublesome behavior.

• They were cited as a nuisance by the Director of Communications at Airtel in August 2012 because they demanded money to load diesel at the company’s Base Transceiver Stations.

• Some Area boys when whether they were “proud” to be area boys, 18% of respondents said yes, while 75% said no (7% did not respond).

Culled from www. en.wikipedia.org

Making the difference Property with paving stones Homes of Mitt Romney PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Today’s patio paving stones offer the look of natural, traditional stone products, but with the added benefit of variable sizes, colors and ease of installation. Here, Associate Editor, Udenna Orji, writes on some of the designs, products and installation methods used in the realization of beautiful patios, walkways and others.

With its graceful simplicity and weathered, dimpled surface, Cassova resembles the traditional Brussels paver. It can be configured into a variety of designs, including herringbone, basket-weave, running bond or stacked-bond patterns. It also makes a great soldier course (a border to contain a gravel walk) or accent for other pavers.

Today’s pavers come in all shapes and sizes making them ideally suitable for any landscape plan.

While the square and rectangular stones are more popular, there are a variety of other designs to consider, from natural-looking flagstone to special designs and shapes including tulip, wave, and the hexagonpatterned layout shown here.

PAGE 15

and Barack Obama

The United States Presidential election may have ended with the defeat of Republican challenger, Mitt Romney by incumbent President Barack Obama. But Romney dusted and still dusts President Obama in one significant area – homeownership. Here’s a roundup of the homes each candidate currently owns.

With its graceful simplicity and weathered, dimpled surface, Cassova resembles the traditional Brussels paver. It can be configured into a variety of designs, including herringbone, basket-weave, running bond or stacked-bond patterns. It also makes a great soldier course (a border to contain a gravel walk) or accent for other pavers.

Barack Obama’s home

Barack Obama While Obama did spend part of his childhood in Hawaii before moving to Chicago, he owns just one home — in the Windy City.

He and wife Michelle bought the brick home in 2005 for $1.65 million (shown below).

Located on Greenwood Avenue, the home, pictured below, was built in 1917 and offers 6,199 square feet of space.

Although Obama hasn’t owned any other properties, an apartment he rented while attending Columbia University in the mid-’80s is on the rental market in New York.

The 2-bed, 1-bath Upper West Side apartment has been updated and is available for $2,400 a month.

Mitt-Romney - La-Jolla-house.

Mitt Romney The former governor of Massachusetts owns a smattering of real estate across the country, including homes in Massachusetts, California and New Hampshire. This collection has been pared down; Romney previously owned two other homes — a large estate in Belmont, MA that he sold for $3.5 million in 2009 and a ski home in Park City, UT that he also dumped in 2009 for a little over $5.25 million.

This Plaza Stone paver features an embossed surface with soft-curved edges to give it a somewhat worn look. It is available in a variety of colors in either standard or tumbled finishes. The installation shown combines three different sized pavers—6”x9”, 6”x3”, and 4”x6”—in the Oaks Blend coloration.

La Jolla, CA When Romney is not on the campaign trail, his main home is in the beachfront town La Jolla.

Romney and his wife, Ann, purchased the $12 million La Jolla home in 2008, telling reporters he wanted to be somewhere he could “hear the waves.”

Apparently a home on the high-priced California coast, (median La Jolla home values hit $1,186,200), was the right location.

Politics

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

2015 campaigs: First Lady dares IGP, INEC

By Abbas Aminu Bamalli

M

onths ago, the Inspector General of Police, IG Muhammad Abubakar, summoned all AIGs and Commissioners of police across the country to an emergency meeting in Abuja where he gave an order for the arrest of any politician caught campaigning for 2015 general elections.

Also, recently the Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega warned politicians and political parties against embarking on campaign toward the 2015 elections.

The warning was contained in a statement by Mr. Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman.

The statement said that the commission warned politicians and the political parties to desist from the act or face the law adding that such act was unhealthy, threat to the political process and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

He said the commission had called on security agents to apprehend anyone caught violating the order, adding that the commission observed that campaign posters were being indiscriminately displayed.

The spokesman reminded all players that the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) was still in force, stressing that the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day”.

Idowu cautioned all political parties to note that campaigning outside the law was unacceptable.

He warned that the commissions would not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against culprits as provided by relevant sections of the law On the same issue, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the um-

L-R: First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan and wife of the Vice-president, Hajiya Amina Sambo, during the rally on Thursday.

brella of major opposition political parties, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate media reports that stated that the wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, campaigned for her husband’s re-election during her visit to Rivers State, and sanction her appropriately.

It could be recalled that several media reports recently quoted the President’s wife as asking the people of Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state to support Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan when he seeks re-election in 2015.

This, APC noted, occurred less than two weeks after INEC warned politicians against starting campaign ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Just Thursday, 15th of August, women under the auspices of Nigerian Council of Women Society (NCWS), shut down the nation’s capital, Abuja, making vehicular and human movement difficult which made it for the city’s residents, to

Different women groups on Thursday when the women who thronged Abuja for Jonathan converged on Eagle Square.

celebrate president Goodluck Jonathan.

Although, the theme of the rally was tagged “Celebration of Nigerian Women for Peace and Empowerment”, it was apparently a grand mobilisation of the women in tacit support of the yet to be announced 2015 presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The event literally shut down the entire city and crippled business activities following the blockage of various routes in and around the Abuja, by security operatives, which caused a lot of people including civil servants working around the eagles square to embarked on un-expected exercise by trekking from far away to their offices.

Among the roads blocked as a result of the women rally, were various roads linking the Central Business District, as well as Federal Secretariat from the popular Julius Berger and Area One roundabout, thereby resulting traffic in many parts of the city.

The question here is, is the First Lady not violating the IG’s order?

At the venue of the event, women from various troupes, women groups, non-govermental organisations, professional women bodies, civil society organisations and women politicians were all seen wearing attires made with the President’s pictures which seems to be a campaign in disguise.

In every elections, women are seen as the major targets of many politicians towards achieving their election campaign.

Although, even as the rally was going on, some of the women

brought into Abuja by some politicians from various part of the country to make the rally a huge one, tells various story concerning the challenges they faced, as they were left stranded in some hotels in Abuja by the organisers, who the “invitees” said did not pay them.

The women said that the organisers promised to give them N5000 each, in addition to a wrapper carrying a slogan “Celebration of President Goodluck Jonathan”, which many of the women wore at the event.

As many residents of Abuja city witnessed, the event, which was heralded by a motorised rally from the Old Parade Ground in Garki Area 10, Abuja, as early in the morning through designated routes with the promotional posters of President Goodluck Jonathan on each truck used by the participants In her speech, the mother of the day, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan said, the day was set aside to celebrate women and their contributions to the growth of the nation.

Now, the question also goes this way, would the Inspector General of Police, IG Muhammed Abubakar arrest the organisers of the rally or he will allowed them to go free after violating the order he has given? Or, why didn’t the Commissioner of Police, in charge of the FCT work on the order given to by the Inspector General?

On his side, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, after all he has said about anyone seen or caught campaigning in any form should be arrested and face the law, what action is INEC is taking now?

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 18

Politics

Ifeanyi Uba is the man to beat in Anambra guber race, says Nwadigwe The Coordinator of the Ifeanyi Uba Mandate 2014, Malaysia, Honourable Chinedu Nwadigwe, believes that his candidate is the man to beat in the Anambra gubernatorial race. The chief executive of Edumaco Resources Limited, believes rumours of Uba’s withdrawal from the race were the handiworks of his political foes, who are afraid Uba may steal the show. Nwadigbe, also dismissed claims that the recent truce between the state governor, Mr Peter Obi, and the chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, poses any threat to Uba, He spoke on these and other issues with Patrick Andrew, …excerpts.

I

s Ifeanyi Uba still in the Anambra gubernatorial race?

Any rumour to the contrary is unfounded. It is unfortunate that many people thrive on rumours. One thing everybody must understand is the fact that Ifeanyi Uba’s mission to govern Anambra state is a clarion call by the people for him to save the state.

Unlike other aspirants, Dr Uba is on a rescue mission. So, whoever says that he has withdrawn or is planning to withdraw is being mischievous.

He is on ground, and I know that he is a God-sent to deliver the state from the shackles of maladministration, which it has been subjected to for quite sometimes now. I believe that those who are intimidated Uba’s credentials are behind the baseless rumour.

Do you think he can hold his own against the likes of Dr Chris Ngige and Prof Charles Soludo?

Dr Chris Ngige no doubt is a popular candidate, but kindly first investigate what he has achieved

as a senator since he went to the National Assembly then draw your conclusions.

No, I won’t anyway undermine the reputation of Dr Ngige and others.

The Ifeanyi Uba Mandate 2014 is about letting Anambra people see the differences between him and others.

Our politics is about hope and the reawakening the political consciousness of Anambra electorates before the governorship elections in 2014.

Dr Ifeanyi Uba, is a very successful youth and has vision. An adage says that what a year will look like starts from January. Ifeanyi Uba has a charity on ground, has done what no other aspirants have not done in Anambra state. He is the

“

man of the people.

The truce between Gov Obi and Chief Victor Umeh must represent a threat and increases the chances of APGA? The time for money politics is gone. When mere propaganda and illicit pressure ruled the Anambra politics is gone. Anambra electorates are aware of the gimmick of some politicians.

In essence, who becomes the next governor of Anambra state will be determined by the electorates.

In Nigeria now, opposition political parties have defeated ruling parties and that’s a pointer to the fact that it is no longer business as usual.

Now, a voter searches his or her conscience before casting a vote. To answer your question directly, what does the reconciliation in the All Progressives Grand Alliance got to do in this scenario? Nothing.

What led to the initial problem? And who told you that what led to the first crisis has been resolved? The same APGA has suspended Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha from its fold. So, parties do not count anymore.

What counts are an individual’s scorecards, and in this Ifeanyi Uba is hugely favoured. If he has done selfless services on his own over the years, you can imagine what he would do when he becomes the governor!

How is the mandate group

What counts are an individual’s scorecards, and in this, Ifeanyi Uba is hugely favoured. If he has done selfless services on his own over the years, you can imagine what he would do when he becomes the governor!

Nigeria heading towards 2-party system —Zilani A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibrahim Zilani, in this interview with Agaju Madugba, says the registration of the All Progressive Congress (APC) signals Nigeria’s stride towards a two-party system. Also, he says that the crisis in Rivers state is just an ego problem between Governor Amaechi and First Lady Patience Jonathan. He equally declares his readiness to serve Bauchi as Governor, if call upon by the people. …Excerpts

W

hat is your view on the recent registration of the All Progressive Congress (APC)?

I will say that our political system processes have grown because historically this is the first time we are having major registered political parties blend into one. This signifies that we are maturing in our political process and system.

Basically, now there are three to four political parties in the country: we now have the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressive Congress (APC) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). I think outside these four parties, I want say that the others are mushroom parties. Therefore, we are gradually and systematically marching towards a two-party system.

Do you foresee the APC posing a threat to the PDP in 2015?

If you look at the political configurations definitely PDP must have to put its house in order.

Hon. Ibrahim Zilani Fundamentally, what is lacking in the PDP is internal democracy.

The PDP must open its hands and throw all political offices open for anybody, who is qualified, to contest instead of manipulating the system for a selected few. I think that is the problem of the PDP and that is where it could have especially the APC acts otherwise.

Chief Ifeanyi Ubah faring in Malaysia?

We have woken up from our slumber, at last. It is high time Nigerians borrowed a leaf from the political consciousness of the developed countries.

I am sure you know that an American always ensures that he or she votes during American elections irrespective of where he or she domiciles at the time of the election.

That’s what we intend to do. We shall appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant us similar privilege.

If it is not feasible, I tell you, that we shall all return home to elect our leaders, henceforth. It is wrong to stand aloof, always complaining.

So we are going to vote come 2014

whether we are home or abroad.

What is your message to Anambra people?

It is very simple. At this stage, they should equip themselves ahead of the election proper. Let each Anambrian get their voter’s card, and to be ready to cast a vote at the polls.

You can’t effect change of leadership without your voter’s card.

Jega has also proven that Nigeria of the rigging era is gone. This is a new Nigeria where voting will count.

Let Anambrarians remain peaceful as we march to the polls. We should avoid selling our conscience for what is transient. If Anambra state is well-rooted and well-administered, it will be better than accumulation of illicit wealth.

What do you think is the way forward for the crises in Rivers state?

As far as I am concerned, the problem of Rivers state is an ego one.

I have read the interview of Governor Rotimi Amaechi. And I think what began as a simple interaction between him and the wife of the President has snowballed into national crises.

There are indications that President Jonathan may contest the 2015 presidential election. What is your view on this?

I don’t like commenting on speculations. I would have preferred to comment after Mr President have declared his intention to run for 2015. But I give it to him because he is a Nigerian and the constitution allows every Nigerian to run for the highest office in the country. Let us wait for the President to declare his intention to run before one comments on it.

Will Hon. Ibrahim Zilani runs for the gubernatorial for Bauchi state?

Well, I am an indigene of Bauchi state, I am entitled to run. If my people call me to run for the office councilor so be it and if the people call

me to vie for the office of governor of Bauchi state so be it.

I am open to the decision of the majority of the people of Bauchi state and I will align myself with the decision of the people of Bauchi state.

How would you assess Gov. Yuguda’s six years administration?

I think it will be fair to go round Bauchi state and inquire from the people about the performance and rating of the governor.

I have spent all my life in Lagos.

I hardly go to Bauchi, so I am not in a position to make conclusions on the performance or otherwise of Malam Isa Yuguda’s six years administration.

How would you compare your time in the National Assembly and now?

The circumstances are different.

When we were there in 1999, it was shortly after a long break from military rule. It was a new democracy, so we were green horns.

Now though, I think the National Assembly has grown, has accumulated experience and is becoming more matured. Besides, there are now some ranking members who started with us in 1999 and are still there.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Politics

Akwa Ibom: The politics, intrigues of Umana’s removal From Mike Etim

I

n 2007 when Governor Akpabio came on board, Umana Umana was picked as the Secretary to the State Government because of his dexterity and administrative suaveness.

But the hoopla of the past weeks, which saw Umana shoved out of office and treated as a fan and not as a team player in the cartel of government, has left one gasping for answers.

Has the captain’s armband that he had anticipated so much to receive eluded him? Will a fan pick it up?

Has he been tricked to believe he was next in line for the governorship position? In two hours of drama on 5th August his tenure as Secretary to the State Government of Akwa Ibom State withered away. That day, the unusual occurred: Without prior notice, and in his absence, heavily armed security operatives sealed off his office chasing away his staff and barring movement in and around the office.

Nobody knew who gave the order. The governor was not in town when the incident happened.

Even when the former deputy Governor of the state Mr Nsima Ekere (another victim of 2015 gubernatorial race) was removed from office before he escaped being impeached, no such scene was created.

The statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Aniekan Umana five days later revealed nothing tangible but merely said the presence of security operatives in government house wasn’t unusual.

The embarrassment over the incident meant so much to the governor that on his return from his trip the second day he drove straight to the residence of Umana to hold a closed door meeting with him.

Though followed by a retinue of party caucus members, informed sources say only four persons: the governor, a party chieftain, Emem Akpabio, who is a relation of the Governor, Umana and his wife, were locked up in the meeting which lasted for about 3hours.

Informed sources say Umana was prevailed upon to either resign his appointment or accept to be repositioned. Neither options appealed to the SSG, who remained adamant

Gov. Godswill Akpabio

Former SSG, Umana Umana

that he will not resign on the grounds that he did not apply for the job and could not be forced to resign.

The meeting was deadlock thus forcing the governor to repeat the visit to Umana’s residence later in the night. Still Umana refused to budge. Later that night, an official government statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications simply stated that a new SSG in the person of Mr. Udom Emmanuel, a former executive director with Zenith Bank Plc, has been appointed as Umana’s replacement.

But the next day, Umana, along with his supporters, in a rare display of statesmanship, showed up at an emotion laden swearing-inceremony of his successor Emmanuel Udom.

Attempt by security operatives at the venue to turn him back was averted when a call was put through to the governor who ordered that he should be accorded full respect and allowed in.

At the occasion, he was ushered to sit on the high table with the Governor, the Deputy Governor, The Governor’s wife, the New SSG, and the State Head of Service.

“We must accept changes now and then in the growth towards total transformation.

So, today as we witness the oath taking for

office of the secretary to the Government of Akwa Ibom State, we must remember that change is a part of life to sustain the momentum of what we are doing” the Governor stated. Akpabio then thanked Umana for his services and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Political analysts are unanimous that Umana fell out of power because he openly declared that he was contesting the governorship elections in 2015 and went ahead to begin campaigns.

The government adduced that as a serving public officer he should not have done that especially since he had enjoyed a good working relationship with the Governor, whose orders he had flouted.

Political watchers say that was mere cosmetics more so since they had dangled before him the NDDC, MD position, which meant there had been plans to oust him before then.

Powerful forces from the Eket Senatorial District, who are angling for the governorship, sit in 2015 and who are disposed to zoning and not selection which in particular would favour Umana, who is from Uyo Senatorial District, were said to have put pressure on Governor Akpabio to reconsider his stance on Umana as

his successor.

Peoples Daily Weekend learnt some party stalwarts from the Eket Senatorial District had pressured Akpabio, himself a product of zoning, which saw power shift from the dominant Uyo Senatorial District to accommodate the minority Annang in the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, to accede to their demand.

The forces insisted that similar consideration be brought to bear on Akpabio to shift from selection of his successor in 2015. That means the party machinery must be manipulated in favour of Eket Senatorial District, despite the growing agitation for a shift of policy.

Invariably, also it means the party’s flag bearer will not be decided by an open contest so that a candidate from Eket senatorial district who can continue on his uncommon transformation programme would emerge.

Shortly before the incident, Akpabio had for the first time in a town hall meeting in Eket announced that he had not anointed successor. That’s being economical with the truth.

He had severally made such pronouncements.

Since 2007 when Akpabio became governor, he had worked with Umana as a team of uncommon transformers piloting the uncommon transformation programme of government. Umana, it is said, played a major role in Akpabio being made a governor in 2007. By his body language, speeches and inferences, he had proclaimed Umana his successor.

It was learnt that Akpabio had sealed a deal with him with a view to making him his successor in 2015. Based on the deal, Akpabio had refused to comment on the zoning formula agreed upon by the party to zone the position to Eket senatorial district in 2015. Umana is from Uyo senatorial district.

Umana, it seems, was unhappy at Akpabio’s stance against zoning in spite of the growing agitation to maintain the party’s status quo on zoning. He failed to understand that politics is unlike football where inevitably the captain’s armband must always go to a team member, never an outsider.

In the game of politics the rule changes because of the dynamism of the engagement and peculiarities which dictate the game. Ground rules are not observed. The game is PoliTricks, the players are called politricktians.

Towards 2015: The Essential Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

By Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

A

frica House” is the official name of Government House in Kano. The state’s coat of arms, depicting two camels, bears the inscription: “kano, my city, my state.” The message is to be found on the walls in every part of the expansive premises newly reconstructed by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The inscription could be a delibrate attempt to remind the public that Kano is an independent entity in the comity of Nigeria’s confedereting entities.

For more reasons other than having undertaken the reconstruction of this historic edifice, no one in Kano of today perhaps feels more entitled to echo the message than Kwankwaso. This is more so given his acquaintance with Kano’s rich and interesting political history.

Somewhere in one of the many entries on him, the claim is made that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso “is now seen as the heir apparent to the Political Dynasty of Malam Aminu Kano.”

However, there are many watchers of the politics of Kano as it is today who will question the ideological basis for this claim. In the same way successive claimants to the throne vacated by Obafemi Awolowo in the South West have been found wanting, analysts believe that those aspiring to fill the shoes of the late champion of the Talakawa must be made of sterner stuff.

So, of what stuff is Kwankwaso made? He was born 21st October 1956, at a time when Aminu Kano was already a strong factor in

the nationalist movement towards independence. For it was in the 1940s that the founder of NEPU (Northern Elements Progressive Movement) and PRP (Peoples Redemption Party) started the movement in the north of the country in opposition to British rule.

It must be conceded to Rabiu that, although being the son of Musa Salihu, a former village head of Kwankwaso village in Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State, he is not known for sloganeering. He was an active Student leader during his school days, indeed an elected official of the Kano State Students Association.

Not expectedly, when he joined partisan politics in the aborted Third Republic, he joint the Peoples Front faction of the Social Democratic party (SDP) and was elected to the House of Representatives. He became the Deputy Speaker.

During the 1995 Constitutional Conference he was elected as representative from Kano at that time he belonged to the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

He joined the PDP in 1998 under the platform of the same movement, which managed to carry along radical elements from different groups.

Elected Governor of Kano between 1999 and 2003, he lost re-election to Ibrahim Shekarau, a former civil servant and lecturer at the College of Arts and Science, Kano.

There are various accounts of his 2003 setback. Some put it down to high-handedness. While some attribute it to his open support for the reelection bid of the then incumbent President Obasanjo. However,

one factor that was not in doubt was the fact that the PDP in Kano at that time had become split between his supporters and those who opposed him.

Evidence that the comparison of Rabiu Kwankwaso with the great Aminu may not be too wide off the mark is provided by the fact that he immediately resurfaced on the political landscape as Olusegun Obasanjo’s Minister of Defence in 2003.In 2007, he again failed in his bid for Africa House in Kano. He however was soon appointed as the Presidential Special Envoy to Somalia and Darfur.

He reportedly turned down an ambassadorial appointment by the Yar’adua administration, so that he can maintain a sharp focus on his ambition to return to Government House Kano. As they say, the rest is history.

Like Aminu Kano, his arguable mentor, Kwankwaso’s ambition transcends the Kano political landscape and horizon.

With the North anxious to see the back of Jonathan, Kwankwaso has emerged as one of the frontrunners to benefit from the unlikely event of a seating president being unable to secure his party’s ticket in 2015.

And he has no shortage of rivals for the ticket, even from the Aminu Kano political camp, not to talk of threat from APC’s Muhammadu Buhari. And nobody should discountenance the threat from Vice president Namadi Sambo.

Given his relationship with Obasanjo and his role in the Governors’ Forum election saga, you could say that Kwankwaso has already crossed the Rubicon as far as his relationship with the incumbent president is con-

cerned. Hear what he has to say in a recent interview with Leadership newspaper about Rivers’ Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is, for all practical purposes, Jonathan’s number one adversary today: “As far as I am concerned, Amaechi is a good man. He has respect for all of us and I remember when I was member of NDDC, anytime I went to Port Harcourt, all that we needed to do was for my special assistant to phone them to tell them. He never allowed me to sleep in any hotel. I was always in government house, its presidential wing and I was treated like what it should be. And we kept on having good relationship and Godswilling I became governor and we are in the same forum.”

What, indeed, are the chances of the water engineer? His achievements as two-time governor in Kano are legion. In a recent interview with BusinessDay, he reflected on the difference in Kano state between 1999 and 2003 and when he returned in 2011. He recalls: “We met so many challenges when I came back in 2011. One of these challenges was the attitude of the people wherein everybody was expecting a handout from both the state and local governments. That created negative impression for us. In fact, our values had deteriorated.”

The Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria at one time adjudged him as the “Best performing State Governor of the Year.”

Isn’t there something of the Aminu Kano firebrand in all this?

Hassan writes from Abuja and can be reached via bash7474@gmail.com.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 19

News Analysis Oloffa Stool: Gbadamosi in the eye of the storm From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he people of Offa, a town in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State have continued to drum support for the Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II who was deposed

by Court of Appeal, siting in Ilorin.

Some of the Olugbense ruling house family members, while addressing Journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital had applauded the verdict of the court.

A member of the team, Prince Keji said the installation of the new Olofa was necessary as it would assist in ensuring that peace continued to reign in the Offa Local Government Area of the state, adding that the judgment, which was in favour of Olugbense ruling house had put the Olofa chieftaincy status in proper historical perspectives.

Several placards were carried by protesters with inscriptions like “Live Oba Mufutau alone, He is our Oba, no one can change it”.

An indigene of the Community, from the Olugbense ruling house who spoke under anonymity said, “it is true that Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi should not have been the choice of the King makers, his reign has been peaceful and progress recorded in our town, but how many people will view issues with this manner of objectivity”?

King makers, Princes and Princesses committee who spoke with our correspondent alleged that the Olugbense ruling house were only being used by some elements in the town to forment trouble, adding that neither the commission of enquiry nor the Kwara State gazette stated the orchestrated rotational formular despite the recognition of both ruling houses as being entitled to the throne.

The King makers added that Offa has a tradition in the making of any monarch and that the oracle as well as the people chose Alhaji Mufutau Gbadamosi, who has been very successful in his business before being made to oversee Offa as a King.

Beside, it was learnt that Keji, the father of the Prince challenging their appointment

Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II to the throne was never a King but a tax officer, appointed forcefully over them by the then Northern Emirate government and that no traditional rite was performed for him as Oba except the turbaning by Emirate, against popular opinion.

The King makers added also that even the reign of the turbaned Keji was charterized by crises that made people flee the town, necessitating his removal for peace to reign.

A former chairman of Offa Local Government council, when Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II was installed, Hon Segun Olawoyin said that he had to speak on the side of government because he was in office when he was appointed.

He said; “The claim that Olofa was not duly elected or selected before his coronation as a traditional ruler is total falsehood.

His selection followed due process. When the throne became vacant, the

two royal families, Olugbense and Anilelerin, submitted their respective nominees.

But, later, the Olugbense withdrew the name of their nominee, saying that the person was promiscuous and corrupt. Later, they submitted another name and the names of the two nominees were forwarded to Ifa oracle for

“

selection. In Offa here, we rely on the Ifa oracle to select our king. Ifa chose the better of the two. And the choice was Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Oloyede Esuwoye II. This made the kingmakers submit his name to the state governor.

The state government did not influence his selection is being speculated in some quarters.

The King makers added that Offa has a tradition in the making of any monarch and that the oracle as well as the people chose Alhaji Mufutau Gbadamosi, who has been very successful in his business before being made to oversee Offa as a King.

Since he became the king, there has been peace and progress. If there is a challenge of any kind, he would always be there to provide solution. Part of his financial intervention is the construction of Offa Descendant Union (ODU) secretariat, building of Offa Central Mosque and the building of this palace, amounting to millions of naira. He did not take a penny from anybody to construct this palace. He set up companies where thousands of indigenes are earning their living today.”

The Iyalaje of Offa, Hajia Qadijat Mogbonjubola Debiyi, said that some unseen hands are trying to throw stones into the peaceful pond of Offa to cause a stir and unrest in the community.

“Offa has been very peaceful and, as a matter of fact, many people, including those on the side of the deposed Mufutau Esuwoye, have been trooping to our ruling house to congratulate us and wish us well as we take the mantle of leadership,” he said.

She also said that in 2010, when it became the turn of Olugbense to produce the candidate to fill the vacancy created by the death of Oba Olanipekun Ariwajoye from Anilelerin ruling house, their candidate, Abdulrauf Keji, was rejected by the kingmakers.

“Our ruling house has lost faith in any arrangement that will continue to perpetually deny us our right to ascend to the throne of our forefathers.

“In the interest of peace, justice, fairness, equity and adherence to the principles of rule of law which form the bedrock of democracy, our forefathers have made compromises before in the interest of peace in Offa, particularly in 1969 when Oba Mustapha Keji was persuaded by the government of the day to step down to allow the candidate from the female Anilelerin ruling house to be produced to start the rotational process, and he did,” he added.

Also commenting on the issue, a leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the town, Mr. Babayemi Adigun, said the judiciary should be seen to be making peace in the society, stressing that “the voice of the people must prevail in a sensitive matter like this.”

PAGE 20

H ome s

Make your balcony an extension of home

A

partment balconies are often too close to one another for complete privacy. So, if your apartment balcony is like most others, it’s the only bit of outdoor living space allotted to you.

There is also a good chance your neighbor’s balcony is incredibly close to, or even a part of yours, with very little separating your space from theirs.

Your balcony may also face other apartment buildings or some other public spaces. All of these factors tend to make it quite difficult to feel any amount of privacy while enjoying a sit-out for fresh air at the balcony.

With a few add-ons such as roll-up shades, potted plants or trellises, you can make the space a little more private without physically altering the space.

One of the first things to do is, measure the open area above the balcony railing using a tape measure. Purchase a roll-up outdoor shade that will fit the area. You may repeat this for other openings in the balcony if you need privacy from three directions.

Hang the blinds per package instructions by pre-drilling pilot holes with a small drill bit. Secure the enclosed screws in their respective hanging brackets by using a Philips-head screwdriver or drill bit.

Place tall potted plants, such as palm trees or rubber plants, strategically around the balcony to establish maximum privacy. Place them to the side of a seating area and between your outdoor space and your neighbor’s, for example.

Place a trellis over a side opening on the balcony to partially block the view of neighbors. Secure the trellis by placing the bottom in a rectangular planter. Plant flowers such as climbing roses, ivy, hibiscus or other plants that will climb the trellis and block the public view to give you more privacy.

Watch your neighbourhood from a better view-point in comfort

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Make the space comfortable for sit outs with important guests

Place reclining chairs for relaxation

With a complete set of settee, it can serve as an extension of your sitting room

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 21

Magazine

Weekend

I can’t marry an actor, actress Dike declares >>34 >>34 Omotola debunks story of N10m gift to hubby >> P34

Kannywood has changed me, says ‘Ferozkhan’ >> P36

Star actress, Chika Ike’s estranged hubby breaks silence >> P22

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

By Miriam Humbe

A

peep into the background of the first female Director of the Abuja Geographical Information Systems, AGIS, reveals that she is a woman of many brilliant colours. A fellow of the prestigious Oxford University and member of the Chartered Management Institute in the United Kingdom, Hajia Jamilah Tangaza is well prepared for the position she occupies at the moment.

The principled core Information and Communication Technology, ICT expert is also credited with more than 20 years’ experience in Journalism and Information Management Systems. The better part of these positions she has held in management positions. The Kano-born whiz kid comes from a family that placed premium on education. She started her work-life as an academic in Bayero University Kano, her alma mater. But later, she delved into the challenging world of journalism when she joined the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London in 1992.

On Wednesday March 27, 2013, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed in a bid to reposition the administration, embarked on redeployment of some key staff.

The minister explained that the deployment was meant to ensure improved service delivery to the residents of the Territory. Among those affected by the deployment was Hajia Jamilah Tangaza. Until her appointment as head of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems, AGIS, she served in the office of the minister as Senior Special Assistant on Information Management Systems.

While serving in this capacity, she brought in her wealth of experience to that position. But to many who know her well, it didn’t come as a surprise at all.

To some Nigerians who know little or nothing about her, she is one young woman who is just so lucky. She was not only well qualified and equipped for

the job; she also executed her beat with professionalism and competence. But Hajia Tangaza has paid her dues when it comes to effective management of personnel and resources. She has such a rich and intimidating curriculum vitae that is capable of making the biggest achiever go green with envy.

She started work as a producer—planning, producing, and presenting news and current affairs programmes for the BBC Hausa Service. In 1994 she became a Senior Producer, overseeing production and supervising the BBC Hausa staff and reporters in the West Africa region. From 2004 to 2005, she worked as the BBC’s Abuja Editor, responsible for planning and organizing the BBC’s output from Nigeria. Much later, she was made the Head of BBC Hausa. In this position, Hajia Tangaza oversaw the production and transmission of the Service’s daily output on radio, online and mobile phone. She coordinated two production teams in London and in Nigeria and managed BBC Hausa Staff which included producers and on-the-field reporters in Nigeria, Niger, Ghana and Cameroun.

During her time at the BBC, she also worked with various other BBC departments, presenting and producing a range of programmes including BBC World Service’s English flagship programme, Outlook, and the BBC’s English for Africa programmes, Focus on Africa and Network Africa.

She was an attendee of the British Parliamentary Briefing in 2010, where she spoke on “Radicalisation in Northern Nigeria” exploring the nature and causes of radicalisation in Nigeria and how perceptions of these local conflicts influence the nature of radicalisation including that of the middle class in the United Kingdom.

In 2009, she conceived the “BBC Hausa Village Road Show” with the aim of engaging rural communities as well as giving them an opportunity to be part

of a booming and debating global media environment that is evolving rapidly in today’s digital technology world. The Village Road Show turned out to be the most ambitious in-thefield reporting the BBC Hausa Service had ever embarked on in its more than 50 years’ history. She also undertook a research on “Challenges and Obstacles for Creating Mobile Content for Illiterate Audiences in Rural Africa: A Case Study of BBC Hausa Village Road Show”. Whilst on that journey, BBC Hausa Service offered a total of 1600 minutes of content via Radio and Online. That experience formed the basis for her fellowship at the Reuters Institute at Oxford University.

Apart from the fellowship at Oxford, Hajia Tangaza studied English at Bayero University Kano and earned a Master of Science from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science. She also attended the BBC’s Leadership Programme in collaboration with the Ashridge Business School, University of Hertfordshire and an executive programme at Harvard University.

With such an impressive resume, Hajia Tangaza is expected to bring much needed reform to AGIS. The workaholic that she is known for, Tangaza, while

“

PAGE 23

Hajia Jamilah Tangaza officially taking over the mantle of leadership of the organisation at its Headquarters along Peace Drive, Central Business District, Abuja gave the assurance that her tenure will witness new partnerships and collaborations

Apart from the fellowship at Oxford, Hajia Tangaza studied English at Bayero University Kano and earned a Master of Science from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science. She also attended the BBC’s Leadership Programme in collaboration with the Ashridge Business School, University of Hertfordshire and an executive programme at Harvard University.

that will further increase revenue into the coffers of the FCT Administration to help the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed provide more infrastructure and services to the residents of the territory in tune with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

In order to realize this, Hajiya Tangaza reiterated that her tenure will build on the lofty policies and programmes of her predecessors to improve the services of AGIS to all Nigerians and particularly the residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

On her new job, Hajiya Tangaza emphasised that the core idea of the setting up of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems would be vigorously pursued to achieve the goals of the founding fathers of Abuja. jamilahtangaza.blogspot. com

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST , 2013

Page 24

Kiddies World

With Nami Hassan Kadir namy.kadir@yahoo.com 08130693795.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

The Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery

HIS AND HERS’ CORNER

Disney Angle

O

nce merely a remote monastery hidden by lush, mountain scenery, the Po Lin Monastery made it to the world map when the extraordinary was erected in 1993.

The Big Buddha, or as it’s officially known the Tian Tan Buddha, is a 34ft tall (including base) statue of a seated Buddha that’s part of the Po Lin Monastery complex. Weighing over 250 tons, the statue is the biggest, bronze, seated Buddha in the world and one of the world’s top ten Buddha statues by scale also the spectacular mountain scenery of Lantau Island is seated the world’s tallest bronze Buddha. Originally built as a source of inspiration and a location for contemplation, its grandiose size has turned it into a tourist magnet and millions of tourists flock here each year. Sitting 34 metres high and facing north to look over the Chinese people, this majestic bronze Buddha draws pilgrims from all over Asia.

The eyes, lips, incline of the head and right hand, which is raised to deliver a blessing to all, combine to bring a humbling depth of character

and dignity to the massive Buddha, which took 12 years to complete. Climb the 268 steps for a closer look at this remarkable statue, and to enjoy the sweeping mountain and sea views that can be seen from its base.

Various figures of gods and other colorful symbol of the Buddhist religion are the other attractions of Po Lin Monastery, besides the Giant Buddha statue. The monastery is situated at a height of 520-metre amidst spectacular mountain surroundings. You may also climb up to Lantau Peak came from here, which is 934 meter high.

Opposite the statue, the Po Lin Monastery is one of Hong Kong’s most important Buddhist sanctums and has been dubbed ‘the Buddhist World in the South’.

Home to many a devout monk, this monastery is rich with colourful manifestations of Buddhist iconography and its pleasant garden is alive with birdsong and flowery scents. You can also enlighten your appetite at their popular vegetarian restaurant.

B E AD C

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

B Kiddies World

E A CD

With Nami Hassan Kadir namy.kadir@yahoo.com 08130693795.

CREATIVITY

Duct Tape Velcro Bracelets and Watch

R

aise your hand if you have something in your home with velcro on it. I’m sure you all raised your hands enthusiastically.

These are the things you need: -Duct tape and washi tape if you so desire -velcro squares -printer paper -permanent marker (for the watch faces) -scissors Direction:

Page 25

You can approach the bracelet in a couple of ways. The easiest way is to cut off a long piece of tape and fold it by sticking sides together, lengthwise.

Then, wrap it around your wrist to measure the length, keeping in mind you will need about 1inch of overlap for the Velcro square to be attached.

Cut it to size with scissors. Decorate with more tape, and add the velcro square onto the ends. It’s that easy.

The second way to make the bracelets is by laying out stripes of tape

MODEL OF THE WEEK

onto a piece of printer paper, and then cutting out the strip to fit your wrist.

For the watches, we followed the bracelet directions, but add a watch face to the top. To make the watch face, simply place a strip of duct tape on either side of a piece of paper or card stock, trace around a small circle and cut out.

Draw on your watch numbers and attach it using more velcro.

You can make several different watch faces and bracelets to switch out according to your outfit.

AFRICAN TALES

Fool of The King

L

ong ago there lived a king.

Writers, poets and musicians came from many places to see him. The king liked to hear their stories, poems and music. But there was one man whom the king liked better than the others.

His name was Mahamood.

He knew many tricks, sang funny songs and danced well. He could make the king laugh and the people called Mahamood the Fool of The King There was one thing that the king did not like in, Mahamood. He ate very much. This little man ate from morning till night. The king thought, “My poor Mahamood will die soon if he eats so much.”

Then he called together all his ministers and servants and said, “Listen to me. For one day you must not give Mahamood anything to eat. Do not give him wine, nor fruit, nor meat. Do not give him even a piece of bread. He must not sit at my table. He must not have anything to eat the whole day.”

“Oh, yes, my King, that’s right.

He is too fat,” said one of the ministers. So the next day there was no place for Mahamood at the

king’s table. He went to the wall and stood there.

He thought, “I shall wait. Soon the servants will bring me food and drink.” But the servants did not bring him anything. He did not ask for food, because he was afraid of the king. “If a man makes the king angry, that man will die,” he thought.

Poor Mahamood was very hungry. Then one of the servants dropped a little piece of bread.

Mahamood quickly picked it up.

Now I have something to eat,” he thought. ‘I shall eat it when the king is not looking at me.”

When dinner was over, the poets read their poems, the musicians played and the dancing girls began their beautiful dances.

“Now the king is watching the dancing girls,” thought Mahamood, “I shall eat my piece of bread.”

But the king was watching Mahamood all the time. He asked the musicians to stop, called Mahamood to come to him and asked, “I hear that you have a donkey. Where did you get It?” “I bought it in Tripoli, my King!”

answered Mahamood. “Oh, I see,” said the king. So the musicians were playing and the girls were dancing.

Then Mahamood wanted to eat his piece of bread. But the king asked him to come nearer and said. “How much did you pay for your donkey in Tripoli?” Mahamood put the bread in his pocket quickly and answered.

“Sixteen gold coins, my King.”

The king went on like this all the afternoon. When Mahamood tried to eat his piece of bread, the king always asked him a question.

At last evening came. Mahamood could not stand. He was so hungry and tired.

When the feast was over, Mahamood ran to the kitchen, but the kitchen was locked and Mahamood had only his small piece of bread to eat. He ate it up and went to his room. But he could not sleep. He was very hungry. Then he ran to the king’s room. He knocked at the door.

The king asked angrily, “Who is knocking at my door so late?” “Oh, my King,” said Mahamood. “I am sorry, but I must tell you that I did not buy my donkey in Tripoli, but in Benghazi.” The king thanked him and told him to go away. A few minutes later Mahamood knocked at the door again. “Oh, my King, but I told you a lie this afternoon.

I did not pay sixteen gold coins for the donkey. I paid twenty gold coins for it.”

“Oh, you fool,” cried the angry king. “I shall cut off your head for your silly tales about the donkey and give your body to the jackals!”

Mahamood listened to the king and smiled: “Oh, yes, I know that.

But before I die may I say my last wish? Only one wish” “What is your last wish?” asked the king. “My last wish is to have a good supper.”

The king understood everything. He laughed and told his servants to bring the best food to his room. He sat down at the table with Mahamood. They ate and laughed until morning came. After that Mahamood was never without food. And he was always happy.

Olivia Dauda is saying hello to everyone

ACTIVITIES Using the right colours, shade the image below. Describe the action and show your work to your teacher for correction. Cheers!

Page 26

Peoples Daily WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

LEARNING

Induced labour ‘linked to autism’

C

hildren whose mothers needed drugs to start giving birth are slightly more likely to have autism, US researchers say.

A study of 625,000 children, published in JAMA Pediatrics, showed the autism link was stronger in boys.

Scientists have called for more research to explain the difference as it is not clear why there would be a link.

Doctors said inducing labour was safe, necessary and could save a baby’s life.

Autism is thought to be caused by a combination of family, or genetic, risk and conditions in the womb and early life while the child is developing.

The study of births in North Carolina showed 13 out of every 1,000 boys born, and four per 1,000 girls, developed autism.

However, the rate was a third higher in boys when their mother needed drugs to induce or assist the pregnancy, while any effect in girls was more muted.

Researchers said that two cases of autism in every 1,000 births might be prevented by stopping induction. However, they warned this would come at significant cost as the procedure could be lifesaving.

Prof Simon Gregory, of Duke University, said there had been a lot of conflicting evidence on autism and inducing labour, but this study was the largest to look at the issue.

He told the BBC: “We don’t want mothers to say, ‘Under no circumstances do I want to be induced because I don’t want a kid with autism’. That would be plain wrong.

“We’ve found an association and more research is needed. This allows us to focus on the factors around birth that may affect autism and how it develops.”

The study only shows that the rates of autism are higher after labour was induced. It could be down to the drugs used to begin labour or something else influencing the pregnancy that leads to women needing to be induced and also affects the developing brain.

Labour is often induced when the pregnancy has gone on too long and the mother has missed the due date, normally by at least a week.

Michael Heard, of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists spokesperson, said: “We induce to improve outcomes. You reduce the chance of losing the baby and the chance of mum and baby getting unwell.

“This is a preliminary statistical

overview, with no clear reasoning why the two things should be linked.

“Induction is very common and is offered for good medical reasons and is extremely safe. But like most medical processes there is a small risk associated.

“This is another thing to consider in a long-term study, but not something I’d consider in my practice.”

Carol Povey, of the National Autistic Society, said: “Autism is a complex condition and is thought to be the result of many different underlying physical and genetic factors. Its exact causes are still being investigated.

“The scientists who conducted this study acknowledge that further research is required before any hard and fast conclusions can

“

be drawn.

“It’s therefore important that people do not jump to conclusions about this study and its implications.”

What is autism? · Autism and Asperger’s syndrome are part of a range of disorders that can cause difficulties with communication and social skills · The conditions can lead to isolation and emotional problems for those living with them · Conditions can vary from very mild, where the person can function easily, to so severe they cannot take part in normal society · The conditions are collectively known as autistic spectrum disorders and affect more than 580,000 people in the UK

Labour is often induced when the pregnancy has gone on too long and the mother has missed the due date, normally by at least a week.

Pregnant woman

Page 26

Peoples Daily WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

LEARNING

Induced labour ‘linked to autism’

C

hildren whose mothers needed drugs to start giving birth are slightly more likely to have autism, US researchers say.

A study of 625,000 children, published in JAMA Pediatrics, showed the autism link was stronger in boys.

Scientists have called for more research to explain the difference as it is not clear why there would be a link.

Doctors said inducing labour was safe, necessary and could save a baby’s life.

Autism is thought to be caused by a combination of family, or genetic, risk and conditions in the womb and early life while the child is developing.

The study of births in North Carolina showed 13 out of every 1,000 boys born, and four per 1,000 girls, developed autism.

However, the rate was a third higher in boys when their mother needed drugs to induce or assist the pregnancy, while any effect in girls was more muted.

Researchers said that two cases of autism in every 1,000 births might be prevented by stopping induction. However, they warned this would come at significant cost as the procedure could be lifesaving.

Prof Simon Gregory, of Duke University, said there had been a lot of conflicting evidence on autism and inducing labour, but this study was the largest to look at the issue.

He told the BBC: “We don’t want mothers to say, ‘Under no circumstances do I want to be induced because I don’t want a kid with autism’. That would be plain wrong.

“We’ve found an association and more research is needed. This allows us to focus on the factors around birth that may affect autism and how it develops.”

The study only shows that the rates of autism are higher after labour was induced. It could be down to the drugs used to begin labour or something else influencing the pregnancy that leads to women needing to be induced and also affects the developing brain.

Labour is often induced when the pregnancy has gone on too long and the mother has missed the due date, normally by at least a week.

Michael Heard, of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists spokesperson, said: “We induce to improve outcomes. You reduce the chance of losing the baby and the chance of mum and baby getting unwell.

“This is a preliminary statistical

overview, with no clear reasoning why the two things should be linked.

“Induction is very common and is offered for good medical reasons and is extremely safe. But like most medical processes there is a small risk associated.

“This is another thing to consider in a long-term study, but not something I’d consider in my practice.”

Carol Povey, of the National Autistic Society, said: “Autism is a complex condition and is thought to be the result of many different underlying physical and genetic factors. Its exact causes are still being investigated.

“The scientists who conducted this study acknowledge that further research is required before any hard and fast conclusions can

“

be drawn.

“It’s therefore important that people do not jump to conclusions about this study and its implications.”

What is autism? · Autism and Asperger’s syndrome are part of a range of disorders that can cause difficulties with communication and social skills · The conditions can lead to isolation and emotional problems for those living with them · Conditions can vary from very mild, where the person can function easily, to so severe they cannot take part in normal society · The conditions are collectively known as autistic spectrum disorders and affect more than 580,000 people in the UK

Labour is often induced when the pregnancy has gone on too long and the mother has missed the due date, normally by at least a week.

Pregnant woman

PAGE 27

Leisure

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Snoring

S

noring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. In some cases the sound may be soft, but in other cases, it can be rather loud and quite unpleasant. Generally speaking, the structures involved are the uvula and soft palate. The irregular airflow is caused by a passageway blockage and usually due to one of the following: -Throat weakness, causing the throat to close during sleep -Mispositioned jaw, often caused by tension in the muscles -Fat gathering in and around the throat -Obstruction in the nasal passageway -The tissues at the top of airways touching each other causing vibrations -Relaxants such as alcohol or drugs relaxing throat muscles -Sleeping on one’s back, which may result in the tongue dropping to the back of the mouth.

Statistics on snoring are often contradictory, but at least 30% of adults and perhaps as many as 50% of people in some demographics snore. One survey of 5,713 Italian residents identified habitual snoring in 24% of men and 13.8% of women, rising to 60% of men and 40% of women aged 60 to 65 years; this suggests an increased susceptibility to snoring as age increases.

Impacts Snoring is known to cause sleep deprivation to snorers and those

around them, as well as daytime drowsiness, irritability, lack of focus and decreased libido. It has also been suggested that it can cause significant psychological and social damage to sufferers. Multiple studies reveal a positive correlation between loud snoring and risk of heart attack (about +34% chance) and stroke (about +67% chance).

Though snoring is often considered a minor affliction, snorers can sometimes suffer severe impairment of lifestyle. The between-subjects trial by Armstrong et al. discovered a statistically significant improvement in marital relations after snoring was surgically corrected. This was confirmed by evidence from Gall et al. Cartwright and Knight and Fitzpatrick et al.

New studies associate loud “snoring” with the development of carotid artery atherosclerosis, the risk of brain damage and of stroke.

Researchers hypothesize that loud snoring creates turbulence in carotid artery blood flow closest to the airway. Generally speaking, increased turbulence irritates blood cells and has previously been implicated as a cause of atherosclerosis.

Diagnosis Usually, snoring is recognized by a friend or partner who observes the patient sleeping. Besides the “noise” of snoring, more complex conditions such as sleep apnea can be consistent with the symptom of snoring.

A sleep study can identify such issues. Patients can also assess their

own condition to determine the likelihood of such problems based on the severity of their sleeping difficulties.

Treatment Almost all treatments for snoring revolve around clearing the blockage in the breathing passage.

This is the reason snorers are advised to lose weight (to stop fat from pressing on the throat), stop smoking (smoking weakens and clogs the throat) and sleep on their side (to prevent the tongue from blocking the throat).

A number of other treatment options are also available, ranging from over-the-counter aids such as nasal strips or nose clips, lubricating sprays, and “anti-snore” clothing and pillows, to such unusual activities as playing the didgeridoo.

However, snoring is a recognized medical problem and people who snore should always seek professional medical advice before relying on techniques that may mask symptoms (i.e. snoring) but not treat the underlying condition.

Quotable quotes -Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values.

-Remember even though the outside world might be raining, if you keep on smiling the sun will soon show its face and smile back at you.

-Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.

-Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity.

Say only what you mean.

Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love...

-We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. It’s

never your fault.

But it’s always your fault, because if you wanted to change you’re the one who has got to change.

-Determine never to be idle.

No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.

-The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.

-Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.

Happiness never decreases by being shared.

-If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome.

-Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.

CARTOON

STRANGE FACTS -The human brain is capable of higher order activities.

We experience a range of emotions and possess selfawareness in addition to consciousness. Take a look at the following list of human qualities and see which ones describe - Those who complain more actually live longer, because by doing so, it releases tension and increases immunity.

-Humans might not be the cleverest beings in the universe. Did you know that a leech has 32 brains?

Supercomputer or what?

-If you are a cleanliness freak you might want to know, kissing is more hygienic as compared to shaking hands.

-Talk of spending our lives productively! In an average lifespan, we spend around 25 years of our life sleeping.

-As time goes by, the number of broken relationships and divorces are increasing at an alarming rate. But dig this! The longest marriage on record lasted for 86 years, 9½ months - Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher from USA. (1924 - 2011) -If you force your eyes open when you sneeze, they could

pop out by force.

-On an average, about 437 questions are asked by a fouryear old.

-The human body can go for a long time without food, but, not without sleep -The largest name in the world is Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Shermasn Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorft Senior.

-If a person yells continually for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days at a stretch, he will produce enough energy to boil one a cup of tea -Men who are married tend to have a longer life expectancy than those who are single. But they are the ones who are more willing to die - A coin toss done in 1844 was done when naming the city of Portland in Oregon. It was heads for Portland and tails for Boston.

-Thomas Edison came up with a way to make helicopters

fly using gunpowder. It blew up, along with his factory.

-The American airlines removes one olive, from firstclass in each salad - they saved $40,000 in that year of 1987.

-Dentists advise in keeping toothbrushes at least two meters away from the commode, to avoid airborne particles from landing on it after its flushed.

-If you were to fart continuously for 6 years and 9 months, it would be enough gas to create energy like that of an atomic bomb.

-Humans forget 90 percent of dreams.

-Linda Wolfe is the most married woman in the world.

She legally married 23 men one after the other; each marriage ending in the divorce or death of the husband.

-A snail can slide over a razor blade without being hurt by producing slime that helps it slide harmlessly.

-The largest living thing on the face of the Earth is a mushroom underground in Oregon, it measures three and a half miles in diameter.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 19, AUGUST, 2013

s p i T y t u a Be

Tomatoes for skin care

T

omatoes are a woman’s best friend. Tomatoes can be used to get glowing skin, which is free of most problems like rashes and acne. Read on to know how.

1. A tablespoon of tomato juice along with four drops of lemon juice can be used to shrink your open pores.

2. Use tomato pulp as a face pack daily to say bye-bye to acne.

3. Mash up tomato (with seeds) and avocado (without the nut) and apply liberally on your face to naturally cleanse your face. Wash off after 20 minutes.

4. Blend yogurt with tomatoes to get a smooth puree and use as a coolant for your underarms, face and neck. Wash off in 10

minutes.

5. Get oil free skin by regularly using tomato juice mixed with cucumber juice as an astringent, before you go to sleep.

6. Get relief from your rashes by rubbing half a tomato over them in circular motion for 15 minutes.

7. Mix up crushed tomatoes with a little bit of honey and keep it overnight on your face to get that fresh and glowing look for the entire day.

8. Mix tomatoes with milk and drink it twice a day. Your skin will glow from inside within a few weeks.

9. Crush cornflakes and tomatoes together to get a grainy texture and use it to scrub off the dead cells on your face which

make you look dull.

10. Buttermilk mixed with tomato juice can be used if you have burnt your skin while steaming or cooking something.

11. For black patches on your skin, you can sprinkle sugar granules on the area and rub them in with tomato halves and see the difference.

12. If you are feeling too tired, you can even take a tomato bath by crushing two or more pounds of tomatoes and applying the same all over your body.

13. For soft and beautiful toes, you can take cherry tomatoes, cut off one end and wear them like a cap on each toe for about an hour. If you can do this every day, your feet will look extremely beautiful.

Compiled by Nami Hassan Kadir

Be atop the fashion trend with the wrap N

Compiled by Miriam Humbe

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

oticed how more and more women are adorning the wrap dress these days? Although the wrap culture is not alien, modifications have made it the fashion ‘must have for most fashion lovers. Here are a few steps to enable you wear your wrap dress to be on top of the fashion trend.

First of all, untie your dress by loosening the knot. Put the dress on one sleeve at a time, as you would a coat. Allow the dress to hang naturally. At this point, the dress should be open with the ties hanging freely. One side may feel longer than the other.

Locate the slit on the side seam. It can be on the left or the right, depending on which version you have. This slit will be invisible

once the dress is properly tied. For the purposes of these instructions, the slit is on the right.

Gently but firmly grasp the tie on the left side of the dress.

Insert the end of the tie into the side slit and pull it through firmly until the dress begins to hug your body on the left side. Let the tie hang from the slit on the right side.

Take the right side of the dress and place it over the left while holding the tie from the end closest to the dress in your left hand.

Using your right hand, grasp the right tie at the slit.

Cross the ties at the center of your back and switch hands. Hold firmly so that you do not drop the ties and have to begin again.

Page 29

Now the ties should be in opposite hands.

Bring the ties back around to the front of the dress.

Tie the free ends in a knot or bow at the front or side of the dress--whichever feels more comfortable. For an alternate look if the tie is long enough, you can wrap it around your waist again and tie it on either side, and you’re good to go.

Pots & Pans PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Pan baked Lamb meat on butter bean stew

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

Tiger nuts milk (Kunun Aya) Tiger nuts abound in Nigeria. Most people cook and consume these nuts as snacks. When dried and processed, these nuts provide a highly nourishing milk rich in nutritional contents. Tiger nuts have a nice nutty milky taste and are also packed with lots of health benefits.

Ingredients 600g soaked Tiger Nuts (475g dry Tiger Nuts) 1.5 litres cold water Sugar Ginger and Cinnamon How to prepare When they are dry, soak them in plenty of cold water overnight before attempting to blend and strain them to get the very delicious and refreshing Tiger Nuts Milk.

To blend it, you’ll need a kitchen blender. To strain it, you’ll need a chiffon cloth or filter (lariya). Then mix with sugar and refrigerate.

Ingredients LAMB(RAM) 600g Lamb Medallions or Lamb Steak, visible fat trimmed a handful Rosemary leaves, chopped 1 Tablespoon Cumin 1 Tablespoon Paprika 1 Tablespoon Turmeric 1 Tablespoon crushed Black Pepper 2 Teaspoons Cayenne Pepper 1 knob of Butter 1 Cup Chicken Stock Salt to taste Bean stew 400g can of Butter Beans, drained 2 Rashers Pancetta or Bacon, chopped 1 Carrot, minced 1 Stalk of Celery, minced 1 Medium Red Onion, minced 2 Cloves of crushed Garlic 1 Sprig of Thyme 1 Bay Leaf 2 Cups Chicken Stock 1 Tablespoons Tomato Paste Freshly Ground Black Pepper Salt to taste

Preparation Lamb (Ram) Mix all ingredients together except salt, stock and butter.

Marinate 15-30mins.

Get pan hot on medium high heat. Add a little butter.

When it starts to smoke, sear lamb at 3 to 4 minutes a side each for medium. Steam continuously with palm oil and butter when searing. Set lamb aside and drain oil. Deglaze pan with chicken stock and set pan aside.

Bean stew Get your oven hot on low heat. Render bacon fat for five minutes. Turn up heat to medium and add carrots, onions, and celery. Cook for five minutes.

Add tomato paste, bay leaf, thyme, garlic and pepper, and then toss. Steam until vegetables are lightly caramelized.

Add beans and toss. Stir fry for minutes. Add stock and bring to boil. Turn heat to low and simmer uncovered until right consistency. Season to taste.

The combination Make bean stew until half way through last step when simmering.

Sear lamb and set aside. Deglaze. Add pan juice to bean stew and stir.

Bean stew is ready. Add fresh vegetables.

To plate, ladle stew in the middle of plate, top with lamb.

Drizzle remaining fresh vegetables if desired.

Serve.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 31

The truth about love and romantic chemistry

Have you ever wondered how much of love is about the heart — and how much is controlled by our hormones? Or maybe you question whether love at first sight really exists... or secretly believe it’s something that is just conjured up by smart persons. And what about chemistry — can you create it, or does it just automatically happen when you meet the right person? Most of us have pondered such issues, and in pursuit of the truth, we decided to get some answers from an expert authority on the subject.

Judy Dutton talked with noted anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher of Rutgers University, who is also the author of such books as Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love and Why Him? Why Her? Finding Real Love by Understanding Your Personality Type. Her noteworthy career has been dedicated to understanding love — including how and why it functions for us humans. Here, she shares her fascinating insights on the subject.

W

hy do people fall in love?

I’ve come to think that romantic love is one of three basic brain systems that evolved for reproduction. Each evolved for a reason: The libido evolved to get you out there looking for partners.

Romantic love evolved to enable you to focus your energy on just one person at a time, conserving time and energy.

And attachment, the feeling of security you can feel with a longterm partner, evolved to help you stay together long enough to raise your kids Why does being in love feel so good?

Because some of the most powerful brain circuits for pleasure are triggered. The main chemical involved is dopamine, which produces feelings of euphoria, energy, sleeplessness and focused attention on your beloved.

Biologically speaking, you’re experiencing something similar to a high.

Is there such a thing as love at first sight?

Yes. It probably happens to men more than women because men are more visual, but I think we can all remember times when we felt an instant attraction to someone we barely knew. It has a practical purpose: in the animal kingdom you can’t spend three months discussing your résumé; you need to feel instant sparks to start the reproductive process.

Is falling in love all about timing?

Timing is important. The perfect partner can sit right next to you at a party and you might not notice him or her if you’re too busy at work, enmeshed in another relationship or otherwise preoccupied. But if you’ve just moved to a new city, recovered from an unsatisfying love affair, begun to make enough money to raise a family, are suffering through a difficult experience or have a good deal of spare time, you are ripe to fall in love.

Is there anything we can do to make someone fall for us (or make ourselves fall for someone)?

Do new things together.

Novelty and excitement all drive

up the activity of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. These neurotransmitters are associated with energy, elation, focused attention and motivation — all central traits of romantic love. So as you do novel things, these chemicals hop into action and may just push you over the threshold to fall in love.

Is there anything you can do to make yourself stop loving someone?

Some people, especially women, tend to talk about a failed relationship so much that they re-traumatize themselves.

Instead, get rid of your ex’s cards and letters. Don’t call or write.

Get some sunshine and exercise, because both can change your brain chemistry.

What’s the difference between love and lust?

Lust generally dissipates after physical intimacy and returns hours or days later. You can feel it for several people at the same time and not necessarily feel jealous. But when you’re in love, you are very possessive. And romantic feelings don’t dissipate after becoming physical with someone; in fact, they can intensify.

Does physical intimacy make people fall in love?

It can trigger love — probably because afterwards, there’s a peak in dopamine activity. So watch out — you might unintentionally fall for someone.

Do feelings of love die over time, and is there any way to bring them back?

The first intense period of love can last one to three years. After that, these feelings subside. But if two people are compatible, there are many ways to renew a flagging partnership. Novelty can spur romance; physical intimacy can trigger it, too. Do some of the things that you used to when you were first dating.

How important a role does chemistry play in love?

I believe that when the chemistry of one personality meshes well with the chemistry of another, it will continually combust throughout the relationship — keeping both partners together and happy during dry spells when feelings of romance are low.

Romantic African-American couple relaxing togegher How do men and women experience love differently?

Men fall in love faster than women do. Women take longer because they have to create a “memory trail” of their mate’s behaviours. She has to remember what he promised, what he’s done for the partnership, and what he failed to do.

What do men look for in a mate?

Men are more likely to choose women who display signs of youth and beauty — the first time that they marry, men around the world tend to marry women who are three

“

years younger than themselves.

Men are also attracted to women who “need” them. Men want to be helpful.

What do women look for in a mate?

Women are attracted to partners with money, status and ambition — one study found that American women seek partners who offered financial security twice as frequently as men do. If men look for “arm candy,” then women look for “success magnets.”

Can someone truly love more than one person?

No. I think you can feel lust for

The most important thing that scientists have learned is that romantic love was not invented by the troubadours in 11th-century France.

We have now found love poetry from the ancient Sumerians written some 4,000 years ago, as well as evidence of romantic love in over 150 societies.

more than one person, and feelings of attachment for more than one person. But not love. As the Indian aphorism goes, “The lane of love is narrow; there is room for only one.”

What’s the biggest mistake people make when it comes to love?

Some people fall in love before they really know their partner and marry in this state of romantic rapture. They should probably wait until that intense early phase wears off so they can see the flaws in the relationship before they dive in for good.

Having reviewed so much scientific data on love, what would be the most important thing we’ve learned?

To me, the most important thing that scientists have learned is that romantic love was not invented by the troubadours in 11th-century France. We have now found love poetry from the ancient Sumerians written some 4,000 years ago, as well as evidence of romantic love in over 150 societies. It’s given me a deep sense of connection to people everywhere: We’re all alike in some basic and beautiful ways.

Culled from Match-com

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 32

Escape of the Princess

By Miriam Humbe

A

s Princess of Daura, Princess Amina was not allowed out of the palace much for her own safety. Her father was the King of Daura kingdom but her mother, Queen Fatima had been killed after a brutal raid of the palace shortly after Amina’s birth. The king had decided from then on that his precious daughter would not be allowed past the palace walls and if anyone spotted her in town, they were to report immediately. King Ahmed was not aware that Amina was not happy being cooped up in the palace. He thought he gave her anything she ever wanted, everything except freedom.

She had tried many times to escape but had never made it far as the guards [dogaris] would always stop her.

This time, she had a plan. Early one morning, when the poor people would address their complaints to the king, Princess Amina had seen a young widow enter the gates wearing a deep violet veil. Amina had a violet veil that looked very expensive on the outside, but when turned inside out looked similar to the widow’s. The princess decided that today would be the day she would escape. She was sick of being cooped up with nothing to do but practice her lessons. Her father had suggested exploring the palace but Amina had seen all of the hidden rooms and been in every other room in the whole entire palace. She owned a horse named Dadinkowa but could only ride her across the courtyard.

She didn’t wish to be queen one day; she wanted to ride Dadinkowa into different countries, to explore new lands. So as Princess Amina threw her veil over the dark green hijab she was wearing, she decided that it would be now or never. She had packed only a few items in her saddlebag just earlier, and brought just a few pieces of money and food. The other items consisted of a picture of her father, a map, bow and arrows, and a locket from her mother.

Amina tiptoed quietly out of her room and down the long empty hallway. She was lucky that the woman had ridden a black horse that was almost identical to Dadinkowa because if she hadn’t, the dogari would have either seen that it was her or thought that she was stealing the animal. So as she was walking towards the gate that led out of the courtyard, the dogari saw nothing suspicious and gladly opened it. She trotted slowly out the gate and didn’t have enough courage to gallop until the palace was far behind her.

She took in a breath of fresh air and couldn’t believe she had done it. She had finally made it past the castle wall. Amina was so amazed that no one had told how beautiful the land was. She had barely been able to look out over the wall from the tallest tower there. She was angered at the thought and struggled to pay attention to where she was riding. She was snapped out of her thoughts as she approached a farmhouse.

“Oh my!” she exclaimed. “Those poor people live in that old broken down house?” She was very bothered by this and rode up to the dirty dwelling.

As she trotted around, it appeared to be abandoned. She reined in her horse

and dismounted. She swiftly walked around the house and scanned the area carefully. It appeared abandoned but as she turned an upcoming corner, she felt a cold hand cover her mouth and pull her to the side. She struggled to get free but could not.

“Stop moving and listen. You are to answer my question and I’ll let you go. Who are you and what are you doing here?” It was a man’s voice, about the same age as she. She didn’t want to give out her identity to anyone in case her father told people to keep an eye out for her.

“Excuse me for being rude but you asked not one, but two questions,” she remarked smartly. She gave a final tug and escaped her kidnapper. She drew the veil over her eyes and turned to face him. She was shocked to see that he was not as scary looking as she had pictured him. He had dark curly hair.

He had very clear eyes and a friendly face. She felt her own face burning with embarrassment at her thoughts of the young man before.

“Uh, may I ask whom I may be speaking with?” she asked nervously.

The young man shifted and answered, “Isa, madam.” It was a lie but Amina could see right through it.

“Fine you might not tell me your identity but I will politely tell you mine,” she answered. “I’m Maryam.”

She bowed lightly to greet him and he accepted the greeting. He had not been able to tell that she was lying about her name as well.

“Well, is this your land?” she asked. The boy looked around as if pondering on the thought but then answered, “No, but an older friend of mine does. Speaking of which, here he comes.” Amina turned to watch an

older man make his way to the front steps of the house. He turned and saw both of the guests.

“Hello there, Suleiman!” he greeted. “Who’s this you have with you?”

“Hello, Hassan, this is Maryam!” he introduced the girl with pleasure.

She gave a small wave and just as she was doing so, her veil fell slightly.

Suleiman did not recognize her but Hassan did. His face showed his shock but he quickly regained his conscience. This girl was not as Suleiman introduced her; this was the princess of Daura, the daughter of his King’s rival. He was supposed to report any of the enemy’s royal stature to the king if they were out by themselves of their territory. But this girl looked so young and helpless for her age and he knew what would become of her if she were caught. He decided to hold his tongue but drew Suleiman aside. Suleiman excused himself from Amina’s presence and followed Hassan to an isolated area.

“Does she know who you are young prince?” Hassan asked

“

worriedly. Suleiman scowled but shook his head.

“I didn’t want her to see me as a prince; she’d think I was looking down on her anyway.” The prince answered.

Hassan rolled his eyes helplessly and informed Suleiman.

“Forgive me your majesty for saying so, but that girl’s name is Amina, and she is the daughter of your father’s enemy.” Suleiman’s eyes widened in shock.

“She’s the princess?” he asked.

Hassan nodded his head sadly.

Suleiman turned back to study the girl but returned his gaze to Hassan quickly.

“You won’t tell her will you? Her or my father?”

“What?” Hassan asked.

“Please don’t! She might not hang around with me if she knows I’m an enemy and if my father finds out he will have her head and I will never see the outside world again!” he joked about himself but not about Amina.

Hassan thought for a moment but agreed. Suleiman thanked him softly and returned to Amina.

She gave a final tug and escaped her kidnapper. She drew the veil over her eyes and turned to face him. She was shocked to see that he was not as scary looking as she had pictured him.

“Would you like to take a ride around town? I have not seen you around here before so I’m guessing you must be new,” Suleiman lied very easily this time and Amina’s eyes shone with excitement as she agreed.

She mounted her horse and he mounted his and they rode off into the distance. Hassan’s head shook with discouragement as he watched.

“How do you like your tour so far?” Suleiman asked with an amused grin. Amina’s violet eyes were darting from one direction to another, trying to take in all that she saw. The prince guessed that she had never been let outside the palace before since she had not even known what a cat was.

She had seen one and had squealed in fright as it rubbed itself against her legs. Suleiman laughed and said, “Don’t worry it is just a cat! I know that particular one and it is harmless.”

She went to a restaurant where the caterer almost gave away the prince’s identity but Suleiman had quickly mouthed for him not to say anything.

Both Amina and Suleiman walked away with fresh garlic bread, which she ate joyfully.

Suleiman smiled at all these thoughts as Amina played with a grasshopper and some crickets.

Suddenly, down the paved road came a group of soldiers, followed by Daura’s king. Amina gasped and fell back, sadly crushing an ant.

“Oh no,” she whispered. “Come on let’s get out of here, I do not wish for the king to see me this day.” She pulled Sulaiman to his feet and they ran along a path that led out of town.

He could hear people’s astounded cries as the king searched the city for his daughter.

To be continued………………

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 33

One hell of an office romance

By Theodora Ekah

O

h my God! Kelvin. You.... how could you.....how come...what?’’

With that, she dashed out of the office in tears. She never had an idea that she would witness such disgust.

And that was the beginning of the end. I painfully can still remember the look of horror on her face.

Let me begin by introducing myself. Like I said, I am Kelvin married to a beautiful damsel, Nina. Who although gave me tough time, but I still adored her. But I keep wondering why I betrayed our love. I work in an organisation in Port Harcourt.

I didn’t even imagine that such tragedy would ever happen to me to the extent of writing it down for public reading.

I am going to tell you a short story of how I fell from the heights.....

When I first began this job as an accountant, I didn’t believe it. Sure I had lived through some tough situations, felt neglected, and did things some might call wicked, but who hasn’t? It is my personal opinion that every person on this planet enjoys more of debit than credit in all aspects of life.

The job was a tough one. We had to make profits. We stayed at work for long hours. I had a wife, who depended on me for so much, but it didn’t matter. She gave me heartaches but she still loved me. To some extent and on some days, I really felt my office was my heavenly abode, and well, again my place of disaster.

Day in day out that was how life played tricks on me.

Until the day the devil walked into the company...

Smartly dressed, beautifully made up, sexily alluring, this petit damsel walked in. She took the eyes of the men who looked and those who cared to stare. Unfortunately, I was among those who stared and beheld beyond her beauty.

You see I am a married man, who has needs and has a fine wife who hardly ministers to my needs. So, I began hoping she was looking for work. To my amazement, she was an IT student. In the secret place of my heart it was something good to know and I was excited about it.

Little did I know that the fate of my downfall was plotted! I can’t recall how things started, but we began a relationship. It started innocently enough. I got to know her name and a few details about her. ‘’A lovely name for a lovely girl, Emma’’ I said hoarsely.

‘A handsome man for a responsible post’ she replied flirtily My mind spun and the dam

broke on my emotions, making me laugh out loud. I told her a bit of myself and she was aware that I was married.

We began sending ourselves few funny instant messages in the office and it was fun, followed by the occasional lunch hour spent together.

Before we knew it, we were making plans after work to go see a show by Teju Babyface, a show we both liked.

And that night we were out, my co-worker kissed me.

It was exciting and terrifying all at once, and I vividly remember the next day holding back a fierce bout of those embarrassing girly giggles as we both sat in our boss’ office for a meeting.

We dated for as long as we could, kept our relationship a secret from our fellow coworkers. Seems we had done a good job sneaking around and maintaining our composure around each other because no one knew -- or if they did, they at least acted surprised.

Wasn’t I always too smart for such an obvious, tawdry thing — an affair with a co worker? Had I really struggled this hard and earned my way here just to jeopardize it for some thrills with a lady who actually meant nothing to me?

I had a million reasons why it was a bad idea to succumb to what was, by now, a mutual attraction. But once we had crossed the messy Rubicon of our first frantic night together (we had a wee-hours deadline, all reasonable behaviour just went by the wayside).

We threw ourselves into the kind of blinkered, egocentric, mutual self-absorption that is the hallmark of every illicit liaison.

This was wrong. I felt it in my heart. These thoughts crossed my mind as she laid on my chest the nights we spent together.

But it felt so right. Her skin on mine, the feel of her body tensing every time I held her: The aroma of her scent lingering in my memory. My name escaping from her lips softly every time she called. My mind kept telling me no, but our bodies keeps screaming yes. I wondered, could this be a fatal attraction or just an adventure of love.

The longer we got away with it, the smarter and more invincible we felt. We grew so blind to our own indiscretions.

And what about the wife stuck at home? I am ashamed to say that I never gave her a single thought. I had my own guilt to deal with, casually lying to my wife of three years about crazy deadlines and imaginary meetings, and trying not to mention Emma’s name too often.

Well, our adventures went on and on I started feeling something was wrong within me and the way I react to my wife. One night, I returned to my marital home, to my wife, she was surprised I wasn’t so thrilled to see her dressed seductively to receive me.

I quickly had to tell a smooth lie. ‘Honey I am not feeling good’. Nina was caring enough to understand and to attend to me. Deep within me I was happy she believed the lie. That night, I made up my mind to let Emma know that our illicit adventure was over.

The truth dear reader was that I wasn’t man enough to stand up to Emma to tell her that it was over between us.

The first response I got was an insult from Emma-a girl that hurt my ego. She said she was already in love with me and had serious plan for our future.

I reminded her I was married and still young in the marriage for that matter. She said it was more of a reason to let go of Nina and she would be glad to be my mistress after all. Believe me I was shocked.

There was something devilish that lurked in her eyes. ‘’What attracted you to me in the first place?’’ this question was a blow to my face. This was the point regrets started flooding into my head. I wish I hadn’t fallen into this trap of a fatal attraction.

She threatened to tell my wife personally. She didn’t have to anyway. My wife found out in a terrible way. How did I put myself in such a mess? I can’t blame it on the devil The next morning, that fateful day, things fell apart for me and practically my future. I wish I could turn back the hands of time. Okay that morning Emma walked into my office with a moody face.

At first, I tried to shove that emotional look away but she came forward as if to pounce on me. She began telling me how she could no longer think without me crossing her mind and that she loved me truly.

With a tear drop in her

“

Black young urban couple having a good time out

eyes, she began kissing me passionately till I forgot all the defensive sentences I had crammed the previous night against her weapons of seduction. I totally was carried away by all her moves.

Then my wife walked in. She wanted to check on me. I had been stupid to have forgotten that I had lied to her I have been unwell and funny enough Nina started acting nice towards me recently. So being familiar with

Then my wife walked in. She wanted to check on me. I had been stupid to have forgotten that I had lied to her I have been unwell and funny enough Nina started acting nice towards me recently. So being familiar with my colleagues she was allowed in without query and being that Emma was crafty, no one knew she was in my office.

my colleagues she was allowed in without query and being that Emma was crafty, no one knew she was in my office.

Emma kept on kissing me and I kept on fighting and falling and my wife’s footsteps kept coming closer until she reached the door. And this was inevitably the end of all that was of me...... you know better.

Definitely I lost Nina’s trust then herself, Emma got a query but rounded off her IT which I wasn’t present to see her leave as I saw her come. Personal issues got emotional and subsequently affected my career. I got into my office disgruntled and found a letter on my desk. As I opened it to read I was captivated by these words; ‘’...... We are kindly relieving you of your duty as it has come to our notice that your psychological state is affecting our organisation negatively’’.

Yours faithfully, Management With that I knew I was done for.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 33

One hell of an office romance

By Theodora Ekah

O

h my God! Kelvin. You.... how could you.....how come...what?’’

With that, she dashed out of the office in tears. She never had an idea that she would witness such disgust.

And that was the beginning of the end. I painfully can still remember the look of horror on her face.

Let me begin by introducing myself. Like I said, I am Kelvin married to a beautiful damsel, Nina. Who although gave me tough time, but I still adored her. But I keep wondering why I betrayed our love. I work in an organisation in Port Harcourt.

I didn’t even imagine that such tragedy would ever happen to me to the extent of writing it down for public reading.

I am going to tell you a short story of how I fell from the heights.....

When I first began this job as an accountant, I didn’t believe it. Sure I had lived through some tough situations, felt neglected, and did things some might call wicked, but who hasn’t? It is my personal opinion that every person on this planet enjoys more of debit than credit in all aspects of life.

The job was a tough one. We had to make profits. We stayed at work for long hours. I had a wife, who depended on me for so much, but it didn’t matter. She gave me heartaches but she still loved me. To some extent and on some days, I really felt my office was my heavenly abode, and well, again my place of disaster.

Day in day out that was how life played tricks on me.

Until the day the devil walked into the company...

Smartly dressed, beautifully made up, sexily alluring, this petit damsel walked in. She took the eyes of the men who looked and those who cared to stare. Unfortunately, I was among those who stared and beheld beyond her beauty.

You see I am a married man, who has needs and has a fine wife who hardly ministers to my needs. So, I began hoping she was looking for work. To my amazement, she was an IT student. In the secret place of my heart it was something good to know and I was excited about it.

Little did I know that the fate of my downfall was plotted! I can’t recall how things started, but we began a relationship. It started innocently enough. I got to know her name and a few details about her. ‘’A lovely name for a lovely girl, Emma’’ I said hoarsely.

‘A handsome man for a responsible post’ she replied flirtily My mind spun and the dam

broke on my emotions, making me laugh out loud. I told her a bit of myself and she was aware that I was married.

We began sending ourselves few funny instant messages in the office and it was fun, followed by the occasional lunch hour spent together.

Before we knew it, we were making plans after work to go see a show by Teju Babyface, a show we both liked.

And that night we were out, my co-worker kissed me.

It was exciting and terrifying all at once, and I vividly remember the next day holding back a fierce bout of those embarrassing girly giggles as we both sat in our boss’ office for a meeting.

We dated for as long as we could, kept our relationship a secret from our fellow coworkers. Seems we had done a good job sneaking around and maintaining our composure around each other because no one knew -- or if they did, they at least acted surprised.

Wasn’t I always too smart for such an obvious, tawdry thing — an affair with a co worker? Had I really struggled this hard and earned my way here just to jeopardize it for some thrills with a lady who actually meant nothing to me?

I had a million reasons why it was a bad idea to succumb to what was, by now, a mutual attraction. But once we had crossed the messy Rubicon of our first frantic night together (we had a wee-hours deadline, all reasonable behaviour just went by the wayside).

We threw ourselves into the kind of blinkered, egocentric, mutual self-absorption that is the hallmark of every illicit liaison.

This was wrong. I felt it in my heart. These thoughts crossed my mind as she laid on my chest the nights we spent together.

But it felt so right. Her skin on mine, the feel of her body tensing every time I held her: The aroma of her scent lingering in my memory. My name escaping from her lips softly every time she called. My mind kept telling me no, but our bodies keeps screaming yes. I wondered, could this be a fatal attraction or just an adventure of love.

The longer we got away with it, the smarter and more invincible we felt. We grew so blind to our own indiscretions.

And what about the wife stuck at home? I am ashamed to say that I never gave her a single thought. I had my own guilt to deal with, casually lying to my wife of three years about crazy deadlines and imaginary meetings, and trying not to mention Emma’s name too often.

Well, our adventures went on and on I started feeling something was wrong within me and the way I react to my wife. One night, I returned to my marital home, to my wife, she was surprised I wasn’t so thrilled to see her dressed seductively to receive me.

I quickly had to tell a smooth lie. ‘Honey I am not feeling good’. Nina was caring enough to understand and to attend to me. Deep within me I was happy she believed the lie. That night, I made up my mind to let Emma know that our illicit adventure was over.

The truth dear reader was that I wasn’t man enough to stand up to Emma to tell her that it was over between us.

The first response I got was an insult from Emma-a girl that hurt my ego. She said she was already in love with me and had serious plan for our future.

I reminded her I was married and still young in the marriage for that matter. She said it was more of a reason to let go of Nina and she would be glad to be my mistress after all. Believe me I was shocked.

There was something devilish that lurked in her eyes. ‘’What attracted you to me in the first place?’’ this question was a blow to my face. This was the point regrets started flooding into my head. I wish I hadn’t fallen into this trap of a fatal attraction.

She threatened to tell my wife personally. She didn’t have to anyway. My wife found out in a terrible way. How did I put myself in such a mess? I can’t blame it on the devil The next morning, that fateful day, things fell apart for me and practically my future. I wish I could turn back the hands of time. Okay that morning Emma walked into my office with a moody face.

At first, I tried to shove that emotional look away but she came forward as if to pounce on me. She began telling me how she could no longer think without me crossing her mind and that she loved me truly.

With a tear drop in her

“

Black young urban couple having a good time out

eyes, she began kissing me passionately till I forgot all the defensive sentences I had crammed the previous night against her weapons of seduction. I totally was carried away by all her moves.

Then my wife walked in. She wanted to check on me. I had been stupid to have forgotten that I had lied to her I have been unwell and funny enough Nina started acting nice towards me recently. So being familiar with

Then my wife walked in. She wanted to check on me. I had been stupid to have forgotten that I had lied to her I have been unwell and funny enough Nina started acting nice towards me recently. So being familiar with my colleagues she was allowed in without query and being that Emma was crafty, no one knew she was in my office.

my colleagues she was allowed in without query and being that Emma was crafty, no one knew she was in my office.

Emma kept on kissing me and I kept on fighting and falling and my wife’s footsteps kept coming closer until she reached the door. And this was inevitably the end of all that was of me...... you know better.

Definitely I lost Nina’s trust then herself, Emma got a query but rounded off her IT which I wasn’t present to see her leave as I saw her come. Personal issues got emotional and subsequently affected my career. I got into my office disgruntled and found a letter on my desk. As I opened it to read I was captivated by these words; ‘’...... We are kindly relieving you of your duty as it has come to our notice that your psychological state is affecting our organisation negatively’’.

Yours faithfully, Management With that I knew I was done for.

Nollywood PAGE 34

Aki denies rumoured accident in Niger state

S

tar Nollywood actor, Chinedu Ikedieze popularly known as Aki, has debunked rumour making the rounds that he and his ‘cohort’, Pawpaw were involved in an auto crash on their way to Niger State for a movie.

The rumour, as gathered

by Nigeriafilms.com, sprung up from a purported Facebook page of Bukky Wright.

However, a source close to the actress has denied that the rumour emanated from the seasoned actress.

It was scooped that the purported post alleged that Aki and Pawpaw were involved in a ghastly road accident and the Nollywood

stars were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Speaking with Nigeriafilms.com when contacted to confirm the story, Aki vehemently denied being involved in a car crash as reported in some sections.

An unhappy Aki wondered why some people would wish bad for their fellow human beings. He frowned at some bloggers who just write to draw traffic to their blogs.

“Nothing of such happened to me. I really appreciate your calling to confirm the story. It shows you (Nigeriafilms.com) are professional,” the multi-award winning husband and actor said.

Aki

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Omotola debunks story of Sifax boss N10m gift to Hubby L ast week, one of the entertainment tabloids reported that Sifax boss, Taiwo Afolabi gave a whopping N10m to the Pilot husband of sexy actress, Omotola Jalade, Mathew Ekeinde to support his new hospitality business in Badagry.

The story has it that, Omosexy took Captain Mathew to Dr. Sifax for financial support.

The amiable personality and one of the Most Influential People in the World by Time Magazine, Omotola said there is no iota of truth in the said publication.

The couple once confessed that they have truly signified their interest in running a hospitality/ resource centre in Badagry. This, they said, was why Matthew took the controversial aircraft to Badagry where he will be running the business.

However, when Nigeriafilms.com contacted the mother of four via SMS, she replied by saying, “thank you for consulting me. However, I do not take stories about my family lightly. I think that’s going too far. If you do not have proof of any malicious negative story, with all due respect, it will not be advisable to write”.

Omotola

I can’t marry an actor —Tonto Dikeh declares

C

ontroversial actress, Tonto Dikeh, has declared that she can never marry an actor.

The actress, who has been in the media recently for the wrong reasons ranging from drugs to other social problems, said, “I am not too strong to fall in love. I am human and I have feelings too. I don’t think there is any woman on earth that has not experienced love in one form or the other.

“But, it’s not possible for me to marry an actor. I can never be caught doing that,” Tonto explodes.

However, she said, “I am a role model to those who see me

as one. I am sure Nigerians out there see and read all these things and they laugh. I am sure there are people out there who appreciate what I do as an actress and hope to someday achieve what I have achieved as a thespian.”

“My career thrives on everything. My career thrives on all the ups and downs that I have been through. Most especially, the controversies have made me stronger and wiser. I don’t care about them because they don’t care about me. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. I live my life the way I want to. People should also remember that I am human and no one is perfect”.

Tonto Dikeh

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Boll y wo od/ H o l l ywood

BBA: Berverly makes history, reaches final without nomination

D

espite being ‘crucified’ at home for immorality, former video-vixen, now Big Brother reality TV show housemate, who is flying the colours of Nigeria, has become the first Big Brother housemate to sail through the season without being nominated for eviction.

As the Big Brother show rounds up in a couple of days from now, many will wonder how Beverly managed to go 11 weeks, and 11 different nomination sessions without being nominated for expulsion.

Perhaps, the Big Brother housemates see something in the lingerie model that we cannot see.

Through the 11 weeks, the 28 Big Brother housemates took turns to eliminate each other by nominating two contestants each week and putting them up for possible eviction (The housemates with the highest nominations).

Miraculously, Beverly has

been the only housemate who has never nominated. Recall that even the much loved and very reserved Melvin was up for eviction in the 6th week.

While her romance and live sex with South Africa’s Angelo increased her haters outside the big brother house, She managed to get along well with everybody in the house.

Beverly and Melvin will join Cleo, Elikem as the ride into the BBA finale. Bimp, Angelo and Dillish are up for evicton for the final time this week.

In a conversation with Elikem and Melvin shortly after nominations wrapped, the lingerie model couldn’t hold back her excitement after making history. “This is amazing; being the first housemate to go through the entire season without being put up for possible eviction! Wow,” she said as she jumped for joy.

Orlando Bloom to play Batman

P

irates of the Caribbean star, Orlando Bloom, is reportedly set to play Batman in Superman Vs Batman.

Rumours regarding who will star opposite ‘Man of Steel’, Henry Cavill, have been rife ever since the Warner Bros movie was announced at San Diego Comic-Con International.

The 36-year-old actor has emerged as the hot favourite for the role, Daily Express has said.

Actor Christian Bale was also rumoured to be considering the role, despite previously saying that he would not return following the Dark Knight Trilogy.

Bloom is all set to reprise his Lord of the Rings role as Legolas in ‘The Hobbit’.

Berverly

Beyonce’s perfumes named best-selling celeb fragrance

P

Beyonce

‘World War Z’ becomes Brad Pitt’s top rated film

O

ver the weekend, the worldwide total for his zombie tentpole ‘World War Z’grew to $502.6 million, surpassing the $497.3 million earned by historical epic Troy, Hollywood Reporter has said.

From Paramount and Skydance Productions, ‘World War Z’ is one of the summer’s few success stories.

The movie has grossed $197.4 million domestically (also a best for Pitt) and $305.2 million at the foreign box office.

In the movie, Pitt plays an

op star, ‘Beyonce Knowles’ perfume collection has been named the best-selling celebrity fragrance of all time around the world, India Today has said.

The “Run the World (Girls)” hitmaker’s fragrance range, launched in 2010, includes six scents, and it is said to have been sold more around the world than those launched by any other popular brand, reports femalefirst. co.uk.

The most recent fragrance released by the star was a limited-edition Heat to commemorate her Mrs. Carter

ex-United Nations investigator who traverses the globe in a race against time to stop a pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity itself.

The movie was a passion project for Pitt, who produced alongside Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Ian Bryce.

By all accounts, the tentpole overcame substantial hurdles, including a lengthy delay in releasing the movie after the final act needed to be reworked.

Show world tour, which is currently on a break.

The perfume, a mix of florals, vanilla, sandalwood and acai, was packaged in a turquoise glass bottle and designed to capture the “power, passion and playfulness” of Knowles’ shows.

“I love my music, I love performing and most of all I love and appreciate my fans.

I wanted to give them a special remembrance of this tour and I created this scent to reflect the power, passion and playfulness I put into my performances,” Knowles had said.

Brad Pitt

Bloom

PAGE 36

Kanny w o o d Kannywood has changed me positively, says ‘Ferozkhan’

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

K

annywood fans are in for a swell time. A new face will soon hit the screen to further delight them with delectable performances. That is because for about 17 years now, Isa Adam Ibrahim, a.k.a Isa Ferozkhan, an upcoming artiste has been working tirelessly to carve a niche for himself in the Kannywood industry. In this interview with Mustapha Adamu, the Kano-based actor, who holds a secondary school certificate, shares his experiences and challenges in Kannywood with readers.

Tell us about yourself?

My name is Isa Adam Ibrahim, popularly known as Isa Ferozkhan.

How old are you?

I am 29 years old Are you married?

No, I am yet to get married.

So what motivated you to engage in film making?

It all began from childhood. Acting is natural to me. In fact, I have a strong passion for dancing. As I grew up, I realised that Kannywood is the place where my dream would become true.

It was therefore not a surprise that I developed strong love for the Hausa film and their artists thereof. I decided to join the industry as a dancer.

My joining Kannywood as a dancer was delightful. This though was for a short time because I later met one Kamal S. Alkali, who advised me to change from dancing to full acting.

I didn’t immediately accept his advice, instead, I opted to consult with my mother and obtain her permission to convert from dancing to acting. Before Alkali, I had already met with Adam A. Zango, who had equally given me similar advice. Zango had asked me to wait for a while, maybe he had something in mind.

I kept waiting until about four years when he returned from Kaduna to shoot a movie titled, “ Ummi”. Eventually we met and he informed me that there have been new developments in film making unlike it was used to be in the previous years. He then sought to know if I could cope with the changes. Of course, my answer was yes.

Consequently, Zango took me on. He featured me in his movie titled “ Sai na Auri Zango”. I featured in two scenes.

How long have you been in Kannywood so far?

I have been in Kannywood for 17 years.

So how many films have you featured in so far?

They are about 20 but only a synopsis of one of them titled “ Jarimin maza” was released, the complete movie is yet to be released.

Which is your favourite movie among your movies?

My first favourite movie is titled “ Habeeb”, followed by “ Amintacce” and “ Ashabul Kahfi”. I also love my movie alongside A. Zango, titled “ Gaba da Gaban ta”.

But which is your first movie in Kannywood?

My first movie is titled “ Sai na Auri Zango.”

As an upcoming artist, what problems have you faced, so far?

I thank God that I have not faced problems as such. Things are going well with me and I should say everybody. I respect all the hardworking Kannywood actors and actresses alike.

I know many of them are very experienced and far ahead of me. Their knowledge inspires me and I respect them a lot. I believe life is all about mutual respect.

“

Isa Adam Ibrahim I believe when you respect others both peers and elders, subsequent generation will also give you your due respect.

How do you cope with fans, especially female fans?

I am still growing. I have not featured in many films as generate huge followership. I have not experienced a surge of fans flocking around me, trailing and watching my every act, even on routine things. I am a new artist, I don’t have huge fans base for now, but I pray to have good followership soonest.

Who is your favourite actor and actress?

Adam A. Zango and Zainab Indomie.

Have you ever feature in a movie alongside Indomie?

No.

Kannywood has changed my life for better. Before I became an actor, I used to be easily irritated.

I lacked the patience to wait on someone or something. I get piece off so easily that many would prefer to let me.

So why is she your favourite actress?

I have just found myself astounded by her proficiency; she acts her roles competently in a manner that makes everyone to want to associate with her. . Hauwa Malali, another upcoming artist, is my other favourite.

Apart from film making, what do you do for a living?

I engage in communication business. I sell handsets.

So how do you find life at Kannywood?

Kannywood has changed my life for better. Before I became an actor, I used to be easily irritated. I lacked the patience to wait on someone or something. I get pissed off so easily that many would prefer to let me go.

Not anymore. Since I joined Kannywood, I have gained a lot of experience in human relationship, patience and tolerance. I have found that doing so enables you to relate with ease with everyone. I have found that you must respect the other person, especially those higher than you, if you hope to get on well in life. You also must respect even younger persons because you need them to achieve your goals and advance in your career.

Hence, I have wiped out that my old habit, become tolerant and would hardly have the mind to cause injury- emotional or physical- to anyone. It is my desire to remain peaceful with everyone in the industry. I am happy with my life at Kannywood. It has changed me positively.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17

— SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

News Extra

The Egypt massacre in pictures

Page 37

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 38

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LETTERS

ASUU: One strike too many

By Ndubueze Okeke

I

n 1978 or thereabout, the leadership of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) embarked on a strike to protest the withdrawal of meal subsidy.

That was when attending any Nigerian University (even colleges of education and polytechnics) was to say the least, a pride.

It was during the era of former President Olusegun Obasanjo then a military Head of State and the then Education Minister, Ahmadu Ali that the bloody protest, popularly known as “Ali Must Go” occurred.

‘Bloody’ in the sense that some students were killed during the fracas while others sustained serious injuries. Then, it was unheard of for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU) to contemplate strike action. Rather, the focus was to institutionalize a culture of academic excellence that was comparable to any other tertiary institution in the world.

Unequalled sense of patriotism and professionalism were the hallmarks of Nigerian lecturers.

It was for this reason that some African countries readily sponsored their citizens to study in Nigeria.

Then, Universities provided ambience for learning that stimulated ideas for growth and development of the Nigerian state.

Sadly, our Ivory Tower have become a breeding ground for labour activism and transactional dealings which, obviously, does

WRITE TO US

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Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com adverts@peoplesdailyng.com pictures@peoplesdailyng.com contact@peoplesdailyng.com not augur well for our university education. When I say transactional, I mean lecturers who award grades-forcash or for sex.

University is now the breeding grounds for thuggery, cultism and low quality of teaching, standards and infrastructural decay: Sadly, these in the face of the huge capital investments on education yearly, as represented by budgetary allocations.

Even contributions to academic journals, which are the yardstick for assessing scholarly works, are rare among most lecturers today. Similarly, writing books and conducting research, which were the hallmarks of those dynamic era and which aided new frontiers in academic works and nation building, have been consigned to the dustbin of history.

But the contention is, despite ASUU’s repeated agitations for better working conditions, autonomy, better

funding among others, and efforts of governments, most universities campuses remain an eye sore: lacking in basic amenities.

In fact, research seems a taboo to some of them not entirely for lack of funds because there provisions are made annually for it, but a love for lucre.

What abounds are, crowded and dilapidated hostels forcing students to live off campus with the attendant clashes with communities who often extort them for make-shift accommodation. Besides, students have to make do with out-dated libraries, crowded lecture halls and in some cases poorly trained teaching personnel.

That ASUU’s right to agitate for improved funding is not the issue here especially where government fails to honour agreements. The sore thumb though is the regularity of these strike

actions which have invalidated the essence of their demand.

One had thought that ASUU would place as premium the interest of the nation, the plight of other sectors of the economy which are equally suffering neglect rather than add to the pains with extraneous demands.

Virtually every sector is poorly funded yet they trudge on confident that whatever constitutes a hindrance would someday be eliminated.

Take the Nigerian Police for instance. Daily they put their lives on the line, their families are hardly compensated and yet they continue to offer selfless services to the nation.

What ASUU should be more concerned with for now is how to salvage the fallen standard of our education. It is good to agitate for better working conditions for their members just like every other labour body but when that agitation is taken too far who bears the brunt?

Lecturers, more than other federal and state workers, have enjoyed multiple salary increments and allowances since 1999.

They should put in place a mechanism to deter their members who rarely improve their teaching competence much more break new grounds in learning and teaching.

ASUU parades more intellectual “Lazy Bones” – who dish stale handouts at outrageous cost- than other sets of teachers.

Ndubueze Okeke, can be reached at okekebenze@gmail. com

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 39

Winning the war against insurgency

By Ola Lookman

T

he killing of Momodu Bama, the Deputy to Shekau, and Commander of Boko Haram insurgents in an encounter with federal troops was another timely response to the militants’ recent atrocities few day after Sallah.

Interestingly, recent revelations with regards to activities of the terror group, Boko Haram have confirmed that the insurgency and other unrest witnessed in some parts of the country has nothing to do with religion, but the activities of internationally backed terror groups determined to destabilise the nation. This, no doubt cannot be far from the gospel truth. It is simply an orchestrated plan to distract the government from delivering its plethora of campaign promises to Nigerians.

A sign that peace has finally returned to these once volatile areas is the fact people living these states are very much free to move about in pursuit of their life aspirations. One outstanding event that shook everyone was the resolve

by Muslim faithful in Borno state to stage its annual Sallah Durbar for the first time in four years. Recall that with the notoriety of activities of Boko Haram in these states, the traditional Sallah Durbar festivals were put on hold. In such instances, muslim faithful are usually advised to hurriedly return to their homes after observing the congregational Eid prayers. In the last four years, Sallah and Christmas celebrations

in the above listed states are usually marked without merriment, fun and partying which are no doubt factors that makes such events memorable and thick.

Therefore, the Tuesday’s attack on a Mosque in Konduga in Borno state further reveals to Nigerians that the Boko Haram group is never an organisation whose interest is to promote Islam and its adherents, but to consistently visit terror on innocent and hapless citizens.

Nigerians of different faith are gradually coming to terms with the fact that the terror group is their common enemy and has no link with Islam as the mode of the group’s activities suggests.

The wide condemnation that greeted the attack on the Konduga mosque even by Christians is an indication that Nigerians have since realised that Boko Haram is only out to make life miserable for all Nigerians, irrespective of faith, tongue or political divide.

Sadly, both religions, Islam and Christianity have suffered immense human and material loses since the terror group launched its first attack in 2009 in Maiduguri, Borno state.

It is instructive to stress the fact that no administration in our chequered political history as an independent nation has ever witnessed the level of distraction, especially on the security front than the President Goodluck Jonathan led government. It is particularly worrisome that those behind the unrest have remained faceless and

daily frustrating genuine attempts to engage them in healthy dialogue.

The fact is, many, including those who never believed in the ability of this government to frontally address growing insecurity in the land have since come to realise the complex nature of the issue and have joined in looking for a way out of this quagmire.

Even though the constitution has placed the security of lives and property of Nigerians on the shoulder of government, Nigerians have also accepted the fact that they equally have a role to play to guarantee their own security.

This, they have demonstrated in a number of ways. Example of such is the resolve by youth in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital to come together under a name ‘Civilian JTF’. These youths through house to house search are identifying, arresting and handing over to the Military JTF suspects who have links with the dreaded Boko Haram group. This, no doubt is yielding immense result. This is however a typical example of how citizens are expected to assist government in addressing their needs.

Through, the coordinated efforts of the government, especially in tackling insecurity in the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, normalcy is gradually returning to the above listed areas.

Nigerians who once deserted these states for fear of being attacked or killed are beginning to return in droves. This, no doubt is an indication that peace, security

and normalcy have been partially restored in states once described as hotbed of violence.

That the present administration has what it takes to fight insurgency in some parts of the country is to stress the obvious.

Its resolve to engage these faceless elements so as to get to the roots of the matter remains her source of strength.

It is equally important to stress the fact that the emergency rule imposed on the troubled states

“

It is instructive to stress the fact that no administration in our chequered political history as an independent nation has ever witnessed the level of distraction, especially on the security front than the President Goodluck Jonathan led government. It is particularly worrisome that those behind the unrest have remained faceless and daily frustrating genuine attempts to engage them in healthy dialogue.

of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe is yielding meaningful results.

It is was indeed a huge achievement that during the recent Sallah celebration in Maidurguri, durbars were held, families paid visits to fun spots and people transacted their businesses without fear of imminent attacks. This, no doubt is an indication that this government is winning its coordinated war against terror.

We really need to understand the complex nature of this insecurity challenge.

What government requires from its citizenry is the understanding that it is doing her very best to make life meaningful for all Nigerians, irrespective of where they come from. In this light, we should see the war against insurgency as a collective one and not the sole responsibility of security agencies or the government alone.

Since the emergency rule was announced a few months ago, it is evidently clear the military has claimed major successes. Undoubtedly, these successes wouldn’t have been possible without the support and cooperation of Nigerians. It is a fight to finish. While we commend the gallantry of officers and men of JTF and civilian volunteers, there is this dire need for everyone to support the determination to stop the terrorism in Nigeria.

Ola Lookman Member, Youth Against Disaster Initiative (YADI)

That celebration of women in Abuja

By Stellamaries Amuwa

I

t is undeniable the fact that socio-economic activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were grounded as the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, led some women groups, under the auspices of the Nigerian Council of Women Societies (NCWS), to march for peace in Abuja.

Though what was supposed to be a peace rally, turned into a political campaign as the women drummed up support for the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. The rally, which was tagged: “Celebration of Nigerian women for peace and empowerment,” created serious gridlock as security agents blocked and diverted motorists away from some of the major routes in Abuja.

All roads from Berger Junction, Central Business Area and the Federal Secretariat complex were blocked for the special rally, which started around 7am at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki, as participants marched through designated routes to the Eagle Square, venue of the gathering.

As a woman and a witness to the colourful event, this is my

perspective.

Various groups, individuals and officials were not left out as they came out to witness and celebrate women. While Mrs. Nkechi Mba, National President of NCWS said the mega rally was to celebrate the unprecedented empowerment of Nigerian women, the National coordinator Nigerian Women Voices for Good Governance, Amb. Princess Grace, said women have never been given opportunity to serve at various levels of government in the past as the President has done now.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan expressed her heartfelt joy over the huge turnout of women of all class. She said women are endowed with special gifts to be peace makers and bridge builders, they are therefore key to sustainable peace in our society.

She further remarked that the President Goodluck Jonathan has fulfilled his promise on given the Nigerian women the opportunity to serve in his government.

Realising that Womenfolk are integral part of nation building, the first lady has been unrelenting in her struggle to awaken and empower the woman folk as

epitomized in various activties and campaigns especially in ensuring that women are accorded recognition constitutionally.

Keying into her husband’s commitment to women empowerment, Dame Jonathan has been working assiduously through her

“

Speaking at the event, the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan expressed her heartfelt joy over the huge turnout of women of all class. She said women are endowed with special gifts to be peace makers and bridge builders, they are therefore key to sustainable peace in our society.

She further remarked that the President Goodluck Jonathan has fulfilled his promise on given the Nigerian women the opportunity to serve in his government.

pet project, Women for Change Initiative (W4CI), to better the lives of Nigerian women and children.

The Nigerian entertainment industry were not left out, as the Stallion and elegant musician, Onyeka Onwuenu was readily available to sing praises of the Nigerian women, she said people that criticize Nigeria, do that from afar not knowing what is really happening within the country, she added that majority of Nigerians appreciate Nigeria but the minority with negativity are just too loud. A popular comedian, Lepacious Bose condemns those that have negative issues towards this nation, she said they themselves need change.

While many women at the carnival and the dinner that followed showered encomiums on the administration of President Jonathan, men too were not left out. The chairman KWANKWASIYA WAZOBIA from Kano, said Nigerian Women are heading for greatness with the enabling environment to demonstrate their talents and acumen in various field of endeavours.

Various states were on parade as they displayed their culture and styles.

The entertainment indus-

try also helped out again as they liven up the audience, who were already tensed up with security checks and scrutiny before getting into the venue of the event, most people had their clothes wet with down pour of rain, vehicles parked at long distance while people walked in.

Rather than looking for fault where there is none, Nigerians should appreciate the women, and encourage her, our land is blessed and beautiful, this was the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe speaking at the event.

Everyone seems to be speaking positively about the nation Nigeria, and the improved image of Nigerian woman in the scheme of things in the country and beyond.

The carnival further showed the world the level of our endowment as a nation with nature, good music, colourful fashion and rich culture for tourist attraction. How I wish if the western media criticize Nigeria, our local press should project us positively prove them wrong.

Stellamaries Amuwa Talk2stellamaries@yahoo. com Maitama Abuja

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

BU$ I #€ SS Is Nigeria Custom Service winning the war against smuggling?

By Dapo Olawu

B

y virtue of the law that established the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), The Nigeria Customs Service is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that statutory tariffs due to the Federal Government are collected on every imported goods through the land borders and the seaports.

It is true that Nigerian economy is import dependent, but in order to discourage the trend and allow local manufacturing industries to thrive, the Federal Government has decided to place some items under the import prohibition list so as to discourage their importation.

Some of these items include furnitures, rice in bags, textiles, and a whole lot of other products.

One of the items that has recently generated so much heat and tension is the importation of rice.

In order to encourage local farming and discourage importation, the government pegged the tariff on rice at 110%. Ever since the policy came into operation, stakeholders have cried out at different forums, pleading with the government to reverse the policy.

No doubt, the ban on importation of rice has taken a negative toll on the Nigerian economy because the commodity still find its way into the country by way of smuggling through unapproved routes at the land borders, by this, the revenue that is supposed to accrue to the Federal Government through the customs is lost.

Another factor that has shown the negative effect of the ban and the activities of the customs to discourage its importation is the fact that border community youths have now been rendered jobless.

Some Customs officers at the Seme Border area of Lagos State escaped death by the whiskers last week after angry youths from a border village attempted to lynch them because one of the officers allegedly

Apapa-Port

Crates of rocket launchers Intercepted at the Port sometime ago shot and killed a man; Friday Poku and injured two others who were described as rice smugglers.

The youths were reported to have carried the corpse to the front of the Customs office in the area, demanding that the killer officer should come out of hiding.

Eyewitness accounts claimed that Poku was driving into Nigeria in a red Volkswagen Jetta car marked GGE 81 AH, with three of his friends when he was shot.

The villagers claimed that the killing of Poku happened just three months after another man was also allegedly killed by another Customs officer.

Enraged by this, the youths had attacked any Customs officer they sighted, thereby forcing them into hiding.

It was gathered that Poku was stopped by some Customs men as he was heading inward Nigeria at a check point and nobody could say

what occurred next before gun shots rented the air.

A source added: “Everybody was shocked when one of the Customs officers suddenly pulled out his gun and shot Poku point blank. “He died instantly.”

Poku’s friends, who were momentarily rooted in shock, recovered and tried to catch some of the officers who, realizing that Poku was dead, bolted.

As the crowd pursued them, some of the Customs officers were alleged to have opened fire, injuring two others.

When contacted, the Custom Public Relations Officer, Seme Command, Deputy Superintendent of Custom; Ernest Ollotah, said that the Customs had already set up a panel to investigate the issue.

Ollotah explained that the command is investigating a case of an attempt to disarm some Customs officers by some smugglers who fled

the area after they were driven back by security men.

Based on the foregoing, it is clear that the smugglers around the land borders are becoming more desperate because the custom has been tightening the noose around their necks.

A frontline freight forwarder and President of the Trans-border Traders Association, Alhaji Mikky Okunola said in a chat with Peoples Daily that government needs to create alternative employment for the youths around the border communities.

He confirmed that since the ban on rice importation, many of the youths have been rendered jobless.

“If you look at what is happening within the west African border communities, if we have to be sincere to ourselves there is nothing concrete that they are doing, something to discourage them from smuggling activities is not there, government needs to do more for the border indigenes, we have to create something to engage them legitimately” “The idea behind banning of rice importation through Nigerian borders is a bad law, majority of the youths that are now engaging in illegal activities used to engage themselves with minor jobs like loading rice into trucks and trading, now that it is banned let there be an alternative.”

“The incident that happened recently, I was not there but I was told that the man was trying to disarm the custom officer, if that is the case, the custom officer will like to defend himself because if a criminal is successful in disarming a custom officer he can use the rifle against anybody and we will be talking about many casualties” he said Even though it acknowledged that the intensified efforts of the Nigerian Custom Service against smuggling activities shall give further impetus to the success of the

transformation programme of government, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has however written a petition to President Goodluck Jonathan on the need to exercise caution.

In a copy of the letter which was forwarded to our correspondent, NAGAFF expressed strong dissatisfaction at the loss of investment by the trading public in the hands of Customs and other regulatory agencies of the government stating that it is not healthy for a growing economy like Nigeria.

The association however advised the President that the Nigeria Customs Service and other regulatory agencies of the government should be directed to increase the concept of corrective measures instead of outright seizure of defaulting trade goods.

It pointed out that if traders continue to lose their investments in the manner it’s currently being done by customs, the desire of local manufacturing in Nigeria will remain a mirage.

Though it also acknowledge the presence of quacks among the freight forwarding community, NAGAFF called for an orientation agency of the government to step forward in order to educate and enlighten traders and freight forwarders. It pointed out that the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala should also step forward to factor the informal sector group of the economy.

“The economy of Nigeria is in the hands of the informal sector group, we must know that because they are in the greater numbers. We also suggest and advise the Customs and other regulatory agencies of the government to increase the concept of corrective measures instead of outright seizure of defaulting trade goods”

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Agri cu l t u r e Nigeria is ripe for genetically modified food

PAGE 41

By Mohammed Kandi

F

or every laudable evolutionary agricultural discovery in Africa and the globe, Nigeria has either missed out of the pudding completely, or takes a queue from behind, a decision many agriculturalists have found appalling and a setback for national development.

Recently, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, announced that the country has finally resolved to join the rest of the world to start harnessing bio-technology. He said Nigeria will increase its food production with the use of Genetically Modified (GM) crops.

Most analysts believe the decision is belated given that not a few African countries had already started benefiting a great deal from biotechnology driven farming system or GM crops for over a decade now.

The minister said, “a regulatory system will be put in place to adequately test the technology. But then, the bio-safety act that passed by the Senate is yet to be signed into law by President Jonathan. Further, he assured that, “When the bill is eventually signed into law, it will also play a significant role.”

Considering the positive impact of GM crops on some farming communities around the world, Adesina’s proclamation on it ignited ‘mix-grill’ reactions among stakeholders in the agricultural sector just as issues of GM food had done around the world.

Ever since GMOs resurfaced on national and international discourse, specific ‘unhealthy’ debates, arguments and criticisms have ensued as to whether or not consumers should accept GM foods.

Global media have launched intensive campaign against anti-GM technology because according to them, there have been no traces of any disease caused by the consumption of GM diets, to justify the claims.

Protagonists of GM foods have tended to highlight its numerous advantages even in the face of stiff oppositions by some European countries. Whereas observers believe the United States of America champions the campaign and promotion of the consumption GM foods, Europe has vehemently opposed its consumption. Ironically, the same Europe prefers to lend support to the use of bio-technology in agriculture.

This contradiction has prompted some nagging questions chief among them: What is bio-technology all about as the GMOs? It is obvious that issues on GM foods between Europe and America, as seen by many analysts, are simply an ego problem and the quest to woo economic benefits. The result invariably leads to their toying with the interest of the rest of the world to the detriment of global food security. Their contradictory stance mocks the projected determination to achieve food security by 2050 when as much as 9 billion people are expected to be on earth.

Isn’t it rational for people to gain insight into an issue before cricitising it? Or is the world losing confidence in scientific research and discoveries? Should we blindly discard innovations and innovative ideas just because they at first don’t seem right to us? One had thought we should draw strength from previous findings that later benefited humanity?

As for Nigeria, if the government is that skeptical about GM foods for citizens, which seems obvious, what would they say is wrong with adoption of genetic modification in cotton production, which is non-edible?

The argument on cotton is imperative because Nigeria could derive huge windfall, especially in northern part of the country where cotton could be easily cultivated. Even at present, farmers in the north made huge proceeds from exporting the commodity. Remember the illustrious Kaduna Textile Industry, and how its eventual closure had a multiplier effects on families as thousands were rendered jobless?

Many have asserted that the fastest means of achieving food sufficiency, food security and

Harvested genetically modified food on display rescuing the rural poor from the pangs of hunger, lies with bio-technology driven agricultural system. Scientists have listed several usefulnesses of GM foods but have said nothing really negative about their consumption.

From available records, while genetic manipulation of foods can be traced throughout history, the modern marvels of GMOs and transgenic plants have come to light in just the last few decades. In the 1980’s, scientific discovery proved that specific pieces of DNA could be transferred from one organism to another. This became the basis of the genetic modification process.

In 1983, the first transgenic plant, a tobacco plant resistant to antibiotics was created. Then, genetically engineered cotton was successfully field-tested in 1990. Five years later, Monsanto, then leading bio-tech Company, introduced herbicide-immune soybeans otherwise known as “Round-Up-Ready”.

The promise of genetic modification was enhanced even further in 2000, when scientist discovered that the modification process could be used to introduce nutrients and vitamins to enrich foods. Today, biotechnology and the process of genetic modification is emerging and advancing throughout the planet.

“As at 2004, genetically modified crops were being grown by 8.25 million farmers in 17 countries. Commercially, four genetically modified crops dominate global biotech agriculture with soybeans accounting for 60% of GM crop area, maize accounting for 23% of GM crop area, cotton accounting for 11% of GM crop area, and canola accounting for 6% of GM crop area (James, 2004).”

With the above statistics, what other conviction do we need to accept GM crops, not only as consumers but as producers?

For Nigeria in particular and Africa as a whole, bio-technology, GMO or whatever it is called, needs priority now, if the continent must exploit the abundant-vast arable agricultural lands and harness the myriad of available crops to engage and feed its teeming population.

The challenges for Africa are enormous. It is projected that by the year 2050, the population will double to two billion people while the land available for cultivation will decrease by two thirds.

These two factors combined raise the question of how to produce food and nutrition for the growing population. Moreover, this will also affect the development of the volatile African

economy, since 65 per cent of its labour force and 32 per cent of its gross domestic products currently come from the agricultural sector.

In recent years, however, a remarkable change has occurred. Many countries on the African continent have refocused and strengthened their areas of strength and have accordingly gained comparative advantage, thanks to genetically modified crops. While North and South America and Asia are well-known growers of GM crops, Few Africa countries, sadly Nigeria inclusive, somewhat lack behind in the latest biotechnological developments.

As far back as 1998, South Africa became the first African country to approve genetically modified (BT) cotton and is now the eighth largest producer of GM crops worldwide. Since then, more and more African countries have followed suit.

Although only three other African countries – Egypt, Sudan and Burkina Faso – are currently producing GM crops, many more African countries are investing in research and field trials. Even countries that used to oppose

“

As at 2004, genetically modified crops were being grown by 8.25 million farmers in 17 countries.

Commercially, four genetically modified crops dominate global biotech agriculture with soybeans accounting for 60% of GM crop area, maize accounting for 23% of GM crop area, cotton accounting for 11% of GM crop area, and canola accounting for 6% of GM crop area

GMOs have altered their tough stance and have embraced the new technology for food security.

For example, in May 2013, after banning GM crop imports the year before, Kenya announced that it would rethink its stance and begin field trials in the coming year with GM bananas engineered to resist bacterial disease.

Also, a lot of research is being conducted into indigenous parasites and plant diseases, which used to cause large-scale crop damage.

In Nigeria for instance, the pest Marucavitrata causes crop damage worth nearly USD 300 million annually. Scientists from the Ahmadu Bello University in northern Nigeria have developed a pest-resistant black-eyed pea variety to control this particular insect.

Similarly, in Uganda, Xanthomonas wilt that has affected banana plants and costs farmers several hundred million US dollars annually. But, Ugandan researchers are currently working on a transgenic banana to control Xanthomonas.

Of course, this experience prompted discussions about the pros and cons of GM crops in Uganda. For example, a biotechnology and bio-safety bill was hotly debated by lawmakers, scientists and activists, but finally passed at the end of 2012.

This was also the case in Nigeria, where tensions over GM crops ran high and a bio-safety law that was to be ratified at the end of 2012 was halted. However, in June it was announced that President Goodluck Jonathan will sign the bill, while the Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Ita Okon Bassey Ewa, added that the most populous African country will start selling GM crops by 2015.

On the other hand, for Africa, the benefits outweigh the costs. Keep in mind that genetically modified crops help increase yields and reduce input costs, thus, growing more food in less time, with less money, and labour.

These foods will not only be produced in more quantity but can also have a longer shelf life with less labour and natural materials (water, soil, and energy) to produce. These modified food crops can produce the needed better nutritional foods that African people need.

It will generate vast improvement in food security and ensure availability of sufficient food for its hunger-ravaged Africans. This could be a huge relief for Africans and indeed Nigeria which is blessed with arable lands, dynamic and ever adventurous population.

Page 42

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17

Interview Terrorism is not Jihad, by female scholar

— SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Hajiya Khadija Gambo Awaja is an Islamic scholar and a human rights activist. In this interview with our correspondent in Jos, Ado Abubakar Musa, She throws light on the difference between terrorism and Jihad, and that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism.

M

ost people in the world especially the non-Muslims have a misconception between “terrorism” and “Jihad”. What is the difference between the two concepts?

I think if people would be objective by looking at the Qur’an and the lifestyle of the Prophet (S.A.W) practically, they would see that there is no problem in understanding a clear difference between “terrorism” and Jihad”. In fact they have no link.

Terrorism is a word that sends fear into people or even animals. It is about brutality, it is about being cruel, it is about the use of violence and Islam is averse to all these. So, there is no Qur’anic verse or even in the teaching of the Prophet (S.A.W) that encourages violence whether in the course of inviting people into Islam. In fact there is a verse in the Holy Qur’an that says “We have given a man two ways.” If he likes he believes. If he likes he disbelieves.

Again, a verse says “There shall be no compulsion in the acceptance of the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.” This is to tell you that Islam distances itself from violence in whatever circumstance. The fact that some Muslims have carried out terrorism does not mean that it (terrorism) has a link with Islam. It is something that has to do with individuals but not the religion (Islam). No amount of pressure or misconception would make terrorism part of Islam.

Jihad on the other hand has become one of the controversial concepts in the world. The word jihad has its roots from Arabic word JAHADA which means to strive or struggle to do something be it good or evil depending on which meaning do you use it for. It is worthy of note that there are two types of jihad.

In the first category of jihad which has been accepted and recognized by Islam explains that; when you strive hard to do something good in the course of Allah such as kindness or righteousness, Islam sees that as a jihad.

If you die in the course of defending your life, property or integrity, Islam sees you as a martyr.

When you fight in the course of Allah either you kill or being killed. Islam sees that as a jihad. That fight is where the controversy is. Islam says you should never initiate a war or fight against somebody, and if you (the Muslim) start a war or fight against somebody, you are not a martyr. A fight can only become a jihad if it is initiated against you. In this case, your fighting back in self-defense is considered as a jihad. However, if the aggressor surrenders, Islam compels you to stop the fighting.

In the second category, when people are denied their right as human beings or prevented from following the way of Allah or maltreated and dehumanized, Islam sees that as a jihad in the course of devil (shaitan).

In the course of jihad however, Islam outlines certain principles in warfare.

It says you should not attack children,

women, aged people, worshiping places like mosques and churches or places that are preserved as places of worship or to engage in any form of destruction. So jihad is completely different from the way some people ignorantly perceive it. It is entirely different from terrorism.

Why do you think that some people associate Islam with terrorism?

You see in a situation where the world refuses to acknowledge the fact that the Muslims have their own ideology which means they have their own perceptions, belief and that all these are guided by the Qur’an and Sunnah is unfortunate.

Whatever, the Muslims do must be in line with the teaching of Qur’an and Sunnah.

So in their attempt to draw their inspirations from the teaching of Islam you then tell them no and that it has to be the other way round, you are definitely looking for their trouble and their reaction should not be seen as violence but self defence. So long as what I am doing does not cause harm to you, I think to exercise my right to religion, I should be allowed to practise my religion the way it is enshrined by Allah.

If a Muslim decides to leave beard you then say no, his reaction toward you “the aggressor” should not be seen as violence. Or if a Muslim woman decides to be wearing veil (Hijab) all the time, that her decision should not be compelled to wear anything else contrary to her belief.

The truth of the matter is that anybody you push to the wall, the person must push back and it is in that process some would be ignorantly associating Islam with terrorism. So let the world look at it critically. If the world is talking of justice, let there be justice to everyone.

The world should not impose anything on anybody. Let the Muslims be treated fairly.

How do you feel when people associate Islam with terrorism?

I do feel very angry each time people say that I am a terrorist. By being a Muslim, I am a terrorist. But then I stop being angry and began to tell myself that I have a duty and the duty is to correct this notion as well as to spread the word of Allah. Perhaps we (the Muslims) are relented in our effort to really disseminate the teachings of Islam. I began to tell myself that I have not discharged my responsibility as ordained by Allah, by teaching Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). Perhaps we (the Muslims) have not adequately enlightened people about the religion (Islam). So it is time for the Islamic preachers to play a vital role toward preaching the word of Allah in order to get people to understand Islam and to silence the ignorant ones who claim to be spreading the word of Allah by misinformation.

Whoever gives misinformation from among or outside us, we the Muslims should not relent in our effort to tell the world that what the person says is unislamic and is not a representation of Islam and Muslims.

How does Islam teach peace?

Like I told you from the beginning, it is only on rare occasions that Islam

tolerates war. Unless it becomes a last resort, Islam is averse to war. It talks more about peace from morning to night.

For instance, where Allah says in Glorious Qur’an, “Where two Muslim nations or group fought, effect a reconciliation between them. Moreover, if you look at it critically, all greetings in Islam mean peace. So peace is our key word. Peace is what Islam advocates. Without peace, worshiping, business and other activities cannot be successfully discharged.

Again Islam advocates patience and tolerance which are essential ingredients of peace. This practically manifested in the life of the Prophet (S.A.W) where he left a legacy worthy of emulation, where he lived in the midst of Muslims and nonMuslims both in Makka and Madina. He was seriously harmed but the Prophet (S.A.W) tolerated it in order to allow peace to reign. As a result of that many people embraced Islam. That is what Islam is all about.

How did you find yourself as a human right activist?

Well you are asking me how I found myself learning Islam. For me what I think for, is to worship Allah.

Fundamentally the purpose of creation is to worship Allah. Any other thing follows since the worship of Allah is the essence of being to this world, then learning about Allah is also fundamental to my life. So I take studying of Islam with all seriousness. Since it is also the teaching of Islam that man by his nature is a free person and that Islam distinguishes itself from all other religions by providing basic right and responsibility for man. So when I saw the world talking about it, then I said I must go in there because they are repeating what Islam is talking about in a different way. Then I said let me support it by telling the world that I am a Muslim.

I found myself as an activist because I am a Muslim. It is nothing different for me it is just an extension of the teaching of Islam.

As a human right activist and at the same time an Islamic scholar, how do you play the two roles together?

Well I think I am just playing one role but given two names. Even though I am not a scholar, I am a student of Islam. I am playing one role with two different names.

Activism is about fundamental

“

Hajiya Khadija Gambo Awaja human right and essentially, that is what Islam is promoting. Islam talks about man having the right to learn. He has the right to freedom of expression so long as what he says is not violating anybody’s right. Islam is talking about freedom to believe in the religion you wish to believe in. Islam even admits everyone has the right to his belief (religion). That is why Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an “We have given man two ways. If he likes he believes if he likes he disbelieve” and that is freedom from Allah.

So being a human right activist, I am just replicating what Islam is saying in the activism I am doing. Although anytime I say I have passion for women, people accuse me of being feminist.

Categorically, I am saying I am not a feminist and I would never be a feminist.

For me, feminism is another ideology that is different from Islam. It is an ideology that sometime even questions the existence of Allah. For instance where feminism says woman should take equal share of a man in terms of inheritance, it is obviously questioning what Allah say in the Glorious Qur’an that a man has twice a potion of woman. So here I do not go with feminism because I have my limitation. But I am advocating that woman should be given her share as Islam says.

Again, I agree that in a family, a man is the head of the family just as Allah says and I have no problem with that. Where I do my activism is where a husband reduces his wife into a slave. Husband of today wants their wives to do every thing for them-the washing, sweeping, the cocking and other activities in the house. If it is religion you cannot do better than Prophet (S.A.W) who could help his wives to fetch water and even wash dishes. And that is to tell you that there was love and compassion between them.

In the course of jihad however, Islam outlines certain principles in warfare.

It says you should not attack children, women, aged people, worshiping places like mosques and churches or places that are preserved as places of worship or to engage in any form of destruction.

So jihad is completely different from the way some people ignorantly perceive it.

It is entirely different from terrorism.

I advocate for human right but within the principle of Allah. If what activism is fighting for is in agreement with what Allah says, I champion that. On the other hand, if what it says is in disagreement with what Allah says, I back out because it is not Islam. So, that is what I mean by activism. I am not a feminist. I am a Muslima and so I shall die. I believe in all the teachings of Allah and I believe in all the teachings of the Prophet (S.A.W).

Being a human right activist, what do you want to achieve in life?

I want to see a world where all human beings irrespective of colour or race are treated to the way Allah says they should be treated. I want to see a world where human beings will have their own earning. I intend to see a world of peace where people would be allowed to live and believe in whatever they want to believe as a choice not because somebody imposes it on them.

Essentially, I want to see a world where women would be proud that they are women. Where men would respect women on the basis they are human being and on the basis that they are worthy of respect. I want to see a world where women are treated with deep respect. I want to see a world where children are treated with kindness and compassion.

I want to see a world where children would grow up having a hope not children growing up with gloomy future.

I want to see a world where people relating with one another on the basis of honesty, sincerity and mutual trust and respect. So essentially these are what I want to achieve being a human right activist, knowing very well that again it is a difficult task. Knowing very well that I might not live to enjoy the food of what I am advocating for. But at least it gives me peace that I have done something.

And that some days my name would be mentioned among those who do relevant things in changing the society and the world at large. These are what I want to be remembered for.

I also want to leave a legacy for my children that wherever they find themselves, they would be proud that they have a mother who had impacted something in the lives of people. When I go back to Allah, it could be on record that I have done the little I could even though it has not made any difference but I have made an impact. So essentially, I want to live in peace with anybody irrespective of colour or belief but most importantly to live in peace with Allah, to have very good relationship with Allah so that if I go back to Allah, even if not for anything, I shall be exonerated that I have passed the message.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 43

Tou ri sm

Kanta museum: “The Charm of Argungu”

Front view of the ancient Kanta museum

K

anta Museum is a museum in Argungu, in North Eastern part of Nigeria. Popularly called “the Charm of Argungu”, the museum was built in 1831.

The building was named after Muhammed Kanta, who is said to be the founder of the Kebbi Kingdom in 1515. It was erected

by Yakubu Nabame, a former Emir of Kebbi, and served as the Emir’s palace until 1942 when

Argungu fishing fetsival

the British built a new administrative palace during the reign of Muhammed Sani. After the building became vacant, on July 1, 1958 it was officially opened as a museum, offering an insight into the turbulent history of Kebbi State and converted to a museum to house Argungu’s cultural heritage.

The museum is divided into eleven compartments and has a notable collection of weapons,

consisting of charms, spears, swords, wood, stones, bows and arrows, local guns and even drums on display.

Located in a part of Argungu called “old town” and adjacent to the main market. Built in 1831, the museum was the emir’s palace until 1942. The ancient architectural beauty of the museum is maintained with minimal renovations and reconstruction. It retains its historic

charm; and the view from outside is of ancient northern Nigerian structure and edifice.

The Emir, Alhaji Samaila Mera, comes into the museum every Friday after the Jumat service to pay homage to his ancestors by sitting for a time on the ancient throne. Not surprising, since the museum also serves as a royal tomb; all past Emirs of Kebbi kingdom have been interred there.

The Kanta Museum is quite a fascinating treasure house and tourist’s delight for those seeking a more reflective experience of Argungu and its environs.

Argungu is a city in Nigeria’s Kebbi State, situated on the Sokoto River. As far back as 2007, Argungu had an estimated population of 47,064. The city is the seat of the Argungu Emirate, a traditional state. The city is a major agricultural center for the area, with key crops including tobacco, peanuts, rice, millet, and sorghum. The city also nationally acclaimed for playing host to an annual international fishing festival and competition.

After the Hausa state of Kebbi was conquered by the Fulani Empire in 1808, Kebbi’s rulers fled to Argungu to found a new emirate. Though the neighboring Hausa state of Gwandu conquered Kebbi in 1831, it was unable to fully secure full control of Argungu, and a series of other revolts followed. By the end of the century, Argungu had be-

come a completely independent state, though it was again conquered by the British in 1902.

The history of Kebbi state can never be adequately told without a mention of the Argungu fishing festival which is the culmination of a four-day cultural event in Kebbi State.

Thousands of fishermen line up like an ancient army, carrying their traditional nets and gourds. At the sound of the gun, they pound towards the narrow river Matan Fada and leap into the water. They have just one hour to catch the biggest fish.

The festival is not limited to the fishing alone. During the festival there are various cultural, musical and sporting events as well.

Kebbi State came into being in 1991 and is called the ‘Home of Ancient’. The State was created out of the old Sokoto State.

The capital is Birnin-Kebbi. Its major towns include Birnin -Kebbi, Argungu and Yelwa.

Agriculture accounts for a substantial part of the State’s economy. Food crops include Guinea corn, Rice, Onions and Millet while cash crops include groundnut and cotton. A large percentage of the people are farmers. Kebbi is made up of four major tribes, which includes Hausa, Fulani, Dakarkari and Gungawa. Kebbi State is famous for traditional arts and crafts such as beads, swords and glassware. en.wikipedia.org

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 44

Archive

Musée du Louvre (The national art museum of France)

L

ouvre, (properly, Musée du Louvre), national art museum of France and the palace in which it is housed, located in Paris, on the right bank of the Seine River. The structure, until 1682 a residence of the kings of France, is one of the largest palaces in the world. It occupies the site of a 13th-century fortress.

The building of the Louvre was begun in 1546 in the reign of Francis I, according to the plans of the French architect Pierre Lescot. Additions were made to the structure during the reigns of almost every subsequent French monarch. Under Henry IV, in the early 17th century, the Grande Galerie, now the main picture gallery, which borders the Seine, was completed. Under Napoleon III a wing on the north side (along the rue de Rivoli) was finished.

By the mid-19th century the vast complex was completed; covering more than 19 hectares (48 acres), it is a masterpiece of architectural design and sculptural adornment.

In 1793 the Louvre was opened as a public museum, and the French painter Jacques-Louis David was appointed head of a commission to administer it. In 1848 it became the property of the state.

The nucleus of the Louvre collections is the group of Italian Renaissance paintings—among them several by Leonardo da Vinci—which were owned by Francis I, a collector and patron of note. The holdings were significantly enriched by acquisitions made for the monarchy by Cardinal Richelieu and by Cardinal

I. M. Pei’s Louvre Pyramid Chinese-born American architect I. M. Pei designed this controversial glass pyramid (completed in 1989) at the entrance to the Louvre, a museum in Paris, France. Noted for his unique arrangements of geometric shapes, Pei also earned a reputation for his creative use of space, surfaces, and materials. One of the foremost architects of the 20th century, Pei has designed important public and corporate buildings throughout the world and has worked with urban renewal.

Charles Nes/Liaison Agency Mazarin, who was instrumental in purchasing works that had belonged to Charles I of England.

Napoleon deposited in the Lou-

vre the paintings and works of art seized during his European conquests; after his downfall, however, many of these works were

Grande Gallerie of the Louvre The Louvre houses one of the world’s largest and finest art collections. Originally a palace for French nobility, it was built starting in 1546 on the site of a 13th-century fortress. It became a museum in 1793 and has been incrementally renovated ever since. The Grande Gallerie is the main picture gallery of the museum.

Cyril Delettre/REA /Redux Pictures

restored to their original owners.

Since that time increasing numbers of gifts, purchases, and finds brought back from archaeological expeditions have permanently enriched the museum. Among its greatest treasures are two of the most famous sculptures of the ancient world, the Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo, and Leonardo’s famous portrait, Mona Lisa. The Louvre also holds works by the other Italian masters Raphael and Titian and paintings by the northern artists Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt. Protection of all the Louvre’s priceless masterpieces during the two world wars was effected by their removal to secret depositories outside Paris.

The collections of the museum are administered by seven curatorial departments. The Department of Egyptian Antiquities was formed in 1826 to study and display the objects brought back to France during Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt. The Department of Oriental Antiquities is famed for its collections of Mesopotamian and Islamic art. Other departments include Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities; Objets d’art (including the crown jewels of France); and Drawings and Prints. The Department of Paintings, considered by many scholars the most important in the world,

includes several thousand works of the various European schools.

Its enormous collection of French paintings ranges from the Middle Ages to the early 19th century. Since 1986, however, works of the French impressionists and postimpressionists, many dating from 1848 to 1914 and formerly housed in the Musée du Jeu de Paume (Tennis Court Museum) adjacent to the Louvre, have been included in the collection of the Musée d’Orsay on the left bank of the Seine River.

The museum publishes catalogs and brochures. In addition it publishes the Revue de Louvre, which contains articles on new acquisitions and provides information on museum projects and on other French museums.

In 1993 the Richelieu Wing was opened by President Mitterrand of France. The north wing of the Louvre Palace, formerly occupied by the Ministry of Finance, was vacated and transformed into exhibition areas. This ended the second phase of a project in progress since 1981 that included the addition of the glass pyramid entrance designed by American architect I.M. Pei, an auditorium, galleries for temporary exhibitions, displays on the history of the Louvre, moats of the medieval Louvre, restaurants, shops, and parking facilities.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 45

Archive

Green Eagles of the 1980s pose before a game in Lagos

Nigeria 1994 team line-up: 1 Peter RUFAI (C) 16 Alloysius AGU 22 Wilfred AGBONAVBARE DEFENDERS: 2 Augustine EGUAVOEN 3 Benedict IROHA 4 Stephen KESHI 5 Uche OKECHUKWU 6 Chidi NWANU 13 Emeka EZEUGO 19 Michael EMENALO 20 Uche OKAFOR MIDFIELDERS: 7 FINIDI George 8 Thompson OLIHA 10 Jay-Jay OKOCHA 12 Samson SIASIA 15 Sunday OLISEH 21 Mutiu ADEPOJU

DOWN AND ...Ngozi Okobi (r) of Nigeria and Morgan Brian (6) of USA battle for the ball during the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan 2012, semi-final match between Nigeria and USA at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. USA beat Nigeria 2-0.

The late Rashidi Yekini celebrating a goal in his hay days

First 11: Line-up of Nigeria’s premier football team in 1960

Biographies

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Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Isaac Newton (1642-1727) INTRODUCTION nglish physicist, mathematician, and natural philosopher, considered one of the most important scientists of all time. Newton formulated laws of universal gravitation and motion—laws that explain how objects move on Earth as well as through the heavens (see Mechanics). He established the modern study of optics—or the behavior of light—and built the first reflecting telescope. His mathematical insights led him to invent the area of mathematics called calculus (which German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz also developed independently). Newton stated his ideas in several published works, two of which, Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, 1687) and Opticks (1704), are considered among the greatest scientific works ever produced. Newton’s revolutionary contributions explained the workings of a large part of the physical world in mathematical terms, and they suggested that science may provide explanations for other phenomena as well.

Newton took known facts and formed mathematical theories to explain them. He used his mathematical theories to predict the behavior of objects in different circumstances and then compared his predictions with what he observed in experiments. Finally, Newton used his results to check—and if need be, modify—his theories (see Deduction).

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION Newton was born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, in England. Newton’s father died before his birth. When he was three years old, his mother remarried, and his maternal grandmother then took over his upbringing. He began his schooling in neighboring towns, and at age ten was sent to the grammar school at nearby Grantham. While at school he lived at the house of a pharmacist named Clark, from whom he may have acquired his lifelong interest in chemical operations. The young Newton seems to have been a quiet boy who was skilled with his hands.

He made sundials, model windmills, a water clock, a mechanical carriage, and flew kites with lanterns attached to their tails. However, he was (as he recounted late in his life) very inattentive at school.

In 1656 Newton’s mother, on the death of her second husband, returned to Woolsthorpe and took her son out of school in the hope of making him a farmer. Newton showed no talent for farming, however, and according to legend he once was found under a hedge deep in study when he should have been in the market at Grantham.

Fortunately, Newton’s former teacher at Grantham recognized the boy’s intellectual gifts and eventually persuaded Newton’s mother to allow him to prepare for entrance to University of Cambridge. In June 1661 Trinity College at Cambridge admitted Newton as a subsizar (a student required to perform various domestic services).

His studies included arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry, and, later, astronomy and optics.

EARLY SCIENTIFIC IDEAS When an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1665 temporarily shut down University of Cambridge, Newton returned to Woolsthorpe, where he remained for nearly two years. This period was an intellectually rich one for Newton. During this time, he did much scientific work in the subjects he would spend his life exploring: motion, optics, and mathematics. t this point, according to his own account, Newton had made great progress in what he called his mathematical “method of fluxions” (which today we call calculus). He also recorded his first thoughts on gravitation, inspired (according to legend) by observing the fall of an apple in an orchard. According to a report of a conversation with Newton in his old age, he said he was trying to determine what type of force could hold the Moon in its path around Earth. The fall of an apple led him to think that the attractive gravitational force acting on the apple might be the same force acting on the Moon. Newton believed that this force, although weakened by distance, held the Moon in its orbit.

THE REFLECTING TELESCOPE In October 1667, soon after his return to Cambridge, Newton was elected to a minor fellowship at Trinity College. Six months later he received a major fellowship and shortly thereafter was named Master of Arts. During this period he devoted much of his time to practical

E

A

of planetary orbits. The idea of a planetary attraction based on the inverse square of the distance between the Sun and the planets (which he had assumed in his early calculations at Woolsthorpe) ignited wide debate in the scientific community.

This law of attraction follows, in the simple case of a circular orbit, from German astronomer Johannes Kepler’s Third Law, which relates the time of a planet’s revolution around the Sun to the size of the planet’s orbit (see Kepler’s Laws). The law of attraction also takes into account the centripetal acceleration of a body moving in a circle, given

by Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens in 1673.

The problem of determining the orbit from the law of force had baffled everyone before Newton, who solved it in about 1680. See also Mechanics: Newton’s Three Laws of Motion.

NEWTON’S LATER WORK few months before publication of the Principia, Newton emerged as a defender of academic freedom. King James II, who hoped to reestablish Roman Catholicism in England, issued a mandate to Cambridge in February 1687.

This mandate called on the university to admit a certain Benedictine monk, Alban Francis, to the degree of Master of Arts without requiring him to take the usual oaths of allegiance to the Crown.

The university saw this mandate as a request to grant preferential treatment to a Catholic and as a threat both to tradition and standards, so it steadfastly refused. Newton took a prominent part in defending the university’s position. The university senate appointed a group (including Newton) to appear before a government commission at Westminster, and they successfully defended the university’s rights. After the downfall of James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Newton was elected a representative of the university in the Convention Parliament, in which he sat from January 1689 until its dissolution a year later. While he does not appear to have taken part in debate, Newton continued to be zealous in upholding the privileges of the university.

In the years after his illness, Newton summoned the energy to attack the complex problem of the Moon’s motion. This work involved a correspondence with John Flamsteed, England’s first Astronomer Royal, whose lunar observations Newton needed. However, misunderstandings and quarrels marred their relationship, which ended sourly. In 1698 Newton tried to carry his lunar work further and resumed collaboration with Flamsteed, but difficulties arose again and Newton accused Flamsteed of withholding his observations. The two scientists had not resolved the dispute when Flamsteed died in 1719.

In 1701 Newton resigned his chair and fellowship at Cambridge and in 1703 was elected president of the Royal Society, an office to which he was reelected annually thereafter.

NEWTON’S IMPACT ON SCIENCE Newton’s place in scientific history rests on his application of mathematics to the study of nature and his explanation of a wide range of natural phenomena with one general principle—the law of gravitation. He used the foundations of dynamics, or the laws of nature governing motion and its effects on bodies, as the basis of a mechanical picture of the universe. His achievements in the use of calculus went so far beyond previous discoveries that scientists and scholars regard him as the chief pioneer in this field of mathematics.

Newton’s work greatly influenced the development of physical sciences. During the two centuries following publication of the Principia, scientists and philosophers found many new areas in which they applied Newton’s methods of inquiry and analysis.

Rex Features, Ltd.

A

Isaac Newton work in optics. His earlier experiments with the prism convinced him that a telescope’s resolution is limited not so much by the difficulty of building flawless lenses as by the general refraction differences of differently colored rays. Scottish mathematician James Gregory had proposed a design for a reflecting telescope in 1663, but Newton was the first scientist to build one CALCULUS (NEWTON’S “FLUXIONAL METHOD”) n 1669 Newton gave his Trinity mathematics professor Isaac Barrow an important manuscript, which is generally known by its shortened Latin title, De Analysi. This work contained many of Newton’s conclusions about calculus (what Newton called his “fluxional method”). Although the paper was not immediately published, Barrow made its results known to several of the leading mathematicians of Britain and Europe.

This paper established Newton as one of the top mathematicians of his day and as the founder of modern calculus (along with Leibniz).

NEWTON’S FIRST PUBLISHED WORKS In early 1672 Newton was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Shortly afterward Newton offered to submit a paper detailing his discovery of the composite nature of white light. Much impressed by his account, the Society published it.

This publication triggered a long series of objections to Newton’s scientific views in general, mostly by European scientists from outside England.

Many of the criticisms later proved unsound. The strongest criticism of Newton’s work, however, concerned his work on the theory of gravity and came from English inventor, mathematician, and curator of the Royal Society Robert Hooke. Hooke insisted that he had suggested fundamental principles of the law of gravitation to Newton. Newton answered these objections carefully and at first patiently but later with growing irritation. These public arguments aggravated Newton’s sensitivity to criticism, and for several years he stopped publishing his findings.

THE PRINCIPIA MATHEMATICA AND LAWS OF MOTION By 1679 Newton had returned to the problem

I

“

Isaac Newton’s work represents one of the greatest contributions to science ever made by an individual. Most notably, Newton derived the law of universal gravitation, invented the branch of mathematics called calculus, and performed experiments investigating the nature of light and color.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 47

International

Bakassi: Cameroon finally takes control

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

A

soldier presents a Nigerian army flag to signify the country’s withdrawal from the Bakassi Peninsula.

After many years of political disputes, legal tussles and violence, Cameroon finally took full sovereignty over the disputed territory of Bakassi on Wednesday, five years after an agreement with Nigeria signalling the end of a bloody conflict over the land.

The peninsula was administered by Nigeria from independence in 1960. However, Cameroon based its claim of sovereignty over the region on maps dating back to the colonial era.

The two countries nearly went to war over Bakassi in 1981 and bloody clashes claimed many lives in 1994. That year, Cameroon took Nigeria to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which ruled in favour of Yaounde in 2002.

Nigeria rejected the ruling, but the UN intervened and the two countries set up a UNchaired joint commission to resolve the conflict.

Nigeria formally ceded Bakassi to Cameroon on August 14, 2008, halting 15 years of border conflict. But of course we all rememberPresident Goodluck Jonathan ordered a review of an international ruling which handed the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula (which was then Nigerian territory) over to Cameroon a decade ago.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision after the Senate called on him to appeal the 2002 ruling made by the International Court of Justice thatBakassi belonged to Cameroon. The appeal didn’t yield any fruits when (embarrassingly), the ten-year period to appeal the ICJ’s ruling expired.

A UN-backed period of transition agreed by the two countries followed to allow Cameroon to develop an administrative presence in the area.

The peninsula was formerly part of South Cameroon, itself an area of Nigeria, until inhabitants voted to join Cameroon in 1961.

In October 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Bakassi, a 1,000-square-kilometre (386-square-mile) patch of Atlantic coastal swamp, was part of Cameroon, not Nigeria.

In December 2003, Nigeria handed over 32 villages to Cameroon as part of the 2002 ICJ border deal. In January 2004 both countries agreed to mount joint border patrols, in September of the same year Nigeria failed to meet a deadline to hand over the region.

Then inJune of 2006, Nigeria agreed to withdraw its troops from the Bakassi peninsula to settle its long-running border dispute with Cameroon. The breakthrough came following a UN-mediated summit.

A ceremony marked the transfer of the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon after Nigeria completes its troop withdrawal from the area in August 2006.

In December 2006, up to 30,000 refugees fleeing conflicts in Chad and the Central African Republic crossed into east Cameroon over the past 18 months, the UN refugee agency UNHCR reported.

In a sour turn of events, suspected Nigerian militants killed 21 Cameroon soldiers in the Bakassi Peninsula in November 2007.

The peninsula has no debt worries though, as the Paris Club of major lending nations has cancelled almost all of Cameroon’s $3.5bn debt.

Local leaders have alleged that Nigerians in Bakassi had been abandoned by the federal government.Rights groups have also warned that Nigerians in Bakassi face discrimination.Most of those who have left Cameroon are living in camps in Nigeria’s Cross River state, where they have been critical of the authorities for not doing enough to resettle them.

Oil firms have typically stayed clear of the region given the uncertainty on sovereignty. This week’s events though will surely

attract a great deal of investors who will feel a better sense of security.

According to the AFP news agency, large sections of the area havealready beengazetted for exploration.The Bakassi peninsula is estimated to contain up to 10 billion barrels of oil reserve, according to a Forbes Magazine report of March 10, 2003.

The area has also been a prime target for Nigerian pirates due to its proximity to the unstable but oil-rich Niger delta region, where attacks and kidnappings are common.

In 2009, the Cameroon government stepped up its fight against the pirates by deploying an elite army unit to Bakassi, and by later establishing five military bases there.

Many of the residents of Bakassi regard themselves as Nigerians and have no wish to

“

be Cameroonians. A movement known as the Bakassi Self-Determination Front, in August declared independence from Cameroon, hoisting a flag and setting up an FM radio station. It is not clear how big the movement is, or what it is capable of.

A five-year UN-backed transition period has exempted residents in the area, many of them Nigerian fishermen, from paying tax.

That will all change now as Nigerians must also apply for a residence permit or take up Cameroonian citizenship if they wish to remain.

Official figures put the number of people living in the peninsula at 300,000, 90% of whom are Nigerian. It is not clear how many have decided to leave the region, but it is believed most have decided to remain, he says.

With the area coming under

...the technicians can go to the patients to their homes, examine them at their front doors and diagnose them there and then.

full Cameroonian control, some residents have also said they fear harassment from the paramilitary police, or gendarmes.

Some traditional rulers of Bakassi, expressed dismay over the move.

“I think the spirit of everybody is down. The people of Bakassi, apart from being Nigerians, they are also citizens of the world, and they needed the protection of the world, which they hadn’t seen,” Said EtimOkonEdet He said residents were fed up talking about the issue and as far as they could see, the ceding of the territory was because “they were just interested in the oil”.

“We have given them the oil, we have also given them the land, so we should be allowed to have our peace.”

The region unfortunately remains highly underdeveloped. In the last five years, Cameroon was meant to have started developing the area, building clinics, schools and roads in the peninsula.

A recent government inspection revealed that some of the projects had floundered, revealing dry boreholes and half-completed buildings abandoned because of mismanagement and poor contractors, our reporter says.

Residents have also appealed for help from the government to build some sort of barrier to stop rising flood waters in coastal areas, he says.

With Wednesdays events, it is hoped that the Bakassi chapter (if unfortunate for Nigeria’s pocket) has been closed for good.

PAGE 48

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Wellness

Healthy Living

With Isaac Yakubu Akogu

Diabetes education: Meal planning (I)

www.diabetesguidenigeria.blogspot.com, 08176179496, diabetesconcepts@gmail.com

A Diabetes expert, Mr. Isaac Yakubu Akogu, is also a Pharmacist with over 16 years experience with specialisation in Diabetes Education.

W

elcome to another interesting discourse with me on Wellness column this weekend. Thank you for keeping a date with me. I wish to thank my numerous readers from across the country and beyond the shores of Nigeria who wrote in to contribute, suggest and encourage me in projecting Diabetes Education which is an integral part of successful Diabetes management.

Last week we took a look at some Medical benefits of fasting and this week, we shall dwell on an aspect of Diabetes management that takes centre stage in any forum where people with Diabetes share ideas together –MEAL PLANNING. For someone who is newly diagnosed with Diabetes, one of the issues that bring about confusion is what to eat and how to plan meals.

It is even more worrisome that some people who have lived with Diabetes for some couple of years find it difficult to plan their meals and even when they do; it is difficult to abide with.

By way of definition for the purpose of understanding of readers of this column who cuts across different spheres of life, Diabetes meal plan is therefore a guide that informs you how much and what kinds of food you can choose to eat at meals and appropriate time to snack. An ideal meal plan should be designed to be heart friendly with low saturated fat, dietary cholesterol and sodium as diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease.

People living with Diabetes often make difficult daily choices with extra care to ensure that their food is balanced with insulin and oral medication and exercise to help manage their blood glucose levels.

When you make healthy food choices, you will improve your overall health and you can do a lot to prevent complication such as heart disease and some cancers. The idea of a meal plan might sound or appear to be difficult to achieve but with sincere input by a knowledge Dietician and your physician, you are sure to come up with a meal plan that you can implement. It is important that meal plan should comprise of the food you like, can eat or suitable to your culture or religious belief to ensure compliance.

Three major methods have been utilized to formulate meal

People shopping for Ramadan

planning over the years viz: - Food exchange list.

- Carbohydrate Counting.

- Glycemic index A meal plan must consist of healthy diet which involves a wide variety of foods such as: - Vegetables Beans - Whole grains Poultry - Fruits - Fish - Non fat dairy products.

There is no one perfect food, ensure you pick foods rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber over those that are processed. People living with Diabetes can therefore eat the same food the family enjoys as everyone benefits from healthy eating hence the whole family can take part in healthy eating.

Before deciding what form of dietary intervention to make, a full evaluation of the past and present circumstances of the person with diabetes is necessary. Such an eval-

uation should take account of the following issues: 1. The person’s previous experience of diabetes: - any prior diabetes education - their knowledge and selfcare skills 2. Their current situation:

“

- the prevailing clinical and psychological status - self-management practices (nutrition and treatment plans) 3. Any relevant objectives associated with the care of their diabetes: - clinical goals (target

It is important that meal plan should comprise of the food you like, can eat or suitable to your culture or religious belief to ensure compliance.

blood glucose and lipids) - nutritional goals 4. Lifestyle factors: - levels of physical activity Knowledge of meal planning will help someone living with Diabetes understand which of the foods you’re currently eating may help keep your blood glucose levels as close to your target range as possible. It will explain which foods you may need to eat more of -- or perhaps less of if they are negatively affecting your body weight, cholesterol or blood glucose levels.

In our subsequent discuss on this topic of Meal Planning we shall look at the various strategies of Meal Planning and you can discuss with your dietician to adopt that which is suitable to your current meal guide if any!

Keep a date with me on Wellness column next edition as we take a journey into other interesting aspect of Meal Planning.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Page 49

Weekend Sports

EPL action start today

How EPL will fare as season kicks off today W

hen the sun rises on the 2013-14 Premier League campaign today, it will reveal a landscape that has changed immeasurably in the 91 days since last season.

Familiar faces like Alex Ferguson, Jamie Carragher, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen have moved on, with new managers and a raft of multi-millionpound signings hoping to plug the holes that they have left behind.

Heightening the sensation of new beginnings is the pioneering introduction of goal-line technology, with Hawk-Eye systems now in place at all 20 Premier League grounds.

The sense of unfamiliarity will be nowhere more apparent than at Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium, where champions Manchester United will play a league game with a manager other than Ferguson in the dug-out for the first time since November 1, 1986.

Former Everton manager David Moyes is the man charged with the weighty task of stepping into Ferguson’s shoes, and with games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City to follow in quick succession, he cannot afford a slow start.

“I hope it’s not because Manchester United won the league quite comfortably last year that the fixtures have been made much more difficult.

The first few weeks of Moyes’ Old Trafford tenure have been dogged by speculation about the future of striker Wayne Rooney, whose fitness will be assessed prior to the game after

he made his return from injury in England’s 3-2 friendly win over Scotland.

United’s two closest rivals from last season are also under new management, with Manuel Pellegrini replacing the sacked Roberto Mancini at Manchester City and Jose Mourinho returning to Chelsea to succeed Rafael Benitez.

City, who have spent an estimated £90 million ($139 million, 105 million euros) on new players, do not begin their season until Monday, when they host Newcastle United, with Chelsea in action a day earlier when promoted Hull City are the visitors to Stamford Bridge.

Tomorrow will also witness another encounter between a promoted club and a budding title contender, with Tottenham Hotspur travelling from north to south London to take on Crystal Palace.

Like City, Spurs have also spent heavily in the close season, with Thursday’s acquisition of France midfielder Etienne Capoue from Toulouse nudging their total outlay towards the £60 million mark.

It is Gareth Bale’s mooted move to Real Madrid that has most occupied manager Andre Villas-Boas’ thoughts this summer, however, although the Welshman will be absent at Selhurst Park with a foot injury.

Once again, Spurs begin the season with the aim of pipping north London rivals Arsenal to a Champions League spot, having narrowly failed to meet that objective last season.

Arsenal are yet to add any

new players to their squad, to the consternation of their fans, and manager Arsene Wenger also has injury concerns in midfield ahead of today’s visit of Aston Villa.

Santi Cazorla may be short of fitness after turning out for Spain against Ecuador, while Mikel Arteta is a doubt with a thigh problem.

“Cazorla played almost a full game. He only lands in London tonight (Thursday), so we will see how he is tomorrow,” Wenger said.

“Mikel has a slight thigh problem. We have to check that.

I don’t know if he will be out for the weekend.”

The new season kicks off at Anfield, where Liverpool comes up against a Stoke City side with a new manager in Mark Hughes.

With unsettled striker Luis Suarez absent as he completes his 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last season, Rodgers has been boosted by the news that Daniel Sturridge has overcome an ankle problem.

Former Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez takes his new club Everton to Norwich City on Saturday, while Cardiff City, promoted as winners of the second-tier Championship, visit West Ham United for their first top-level match since 1962.

Paolo Di Canio’s Sunderland, and their 10 new signings, begins the campaign at home to Fulham, while Southampton will have club-record £12.5 million signing Victor Wanyama on board for their trip to West Bromwich Albion.

Weekend Fixtures

Barclays Premier League

German Bundesliga

Liverpool v Stoke Arsenal v Aston Villa Norwich v Everton Sunderland v Fulham West Brom v Southampton West Ham v Cardiff Swansea v Man Utd Sunday Crystal Palace v Spurs Chelsea v Hull

Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayern Munich Hamburg v TSG Hoffenheim SC Freiburg v Mainz Werder Bremen v Augsburg VfB Stuttgart v Bayer Leverkusen Wolfsburg v Schalke 04 Borussia M’gladbach v Hannover 96 Sunday Nurnberg v Hertha Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht

French Ligue 1 Marseille v Evian TG Bastia v Valenciennes Nice v Rennes Reims v Lille Toulouse v Bordeaux Sunday Monaco v Montpellier Lorient v Nantes PSG v AC Ajaccio

Spanish Primera Liga Real Sociedad v Getafe Valladolid v Athletic Bilbao Valencia v Malaga Sunday Barcelona v Levante Real Madrid v Real Betis Osasuna v Granada Sevilla v Atletico Madrid

Sunshine Stars Sharks Enyimba

3SC

ABS F.C.

Heartland

Ranger’s

Nasarawa

Nembe City Akwa United

V

Kano Pillars Lobi Stars Kaduna United Bayelsa United Wikki Tourists Dolphins Gombe United Kwara United Warri Wolves El-Kanemi

PAGE 50

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Sports

Abdullahi to speak at Soccerex African Forum

By Albert Akota

Durban next month.

The chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) will be joined on the panel by Protais Mitali, Minister of Sport and Culture of Rwanda and Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Minister for Youth & Sports of Ghana who will provide an unprecedented

discussion on the state of sport in Africa and the significant role that governments have in the development and regulation of it.

Abdullahi was appointed first as Minister of Youth Development in 2011 and acted as supervising Minister of Sports from December 2011. He was

then appointed as the substantive minister of sport and chairman of the NSC in May 2012 where he is responsible for implementing the policy and programmes of the federal government with respect to sports administration, management and facilities development.

The Soccerex African Forum will bring together 1,000 senior football decision makers together with businesses from across the continent and the world for two days of unrivalled learning, networking and business opportunities to unite the business of football in Africa.

igeria Premier League (NPL) defending champions, Kano Pillars will enjoy the services of their coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru, who has been recuperating after being discharged from the hospital.

The coach, along with two of his colleagues, was involved in an auto-crash while returning from a Federation Cup quarterfinal game in on August 1.The accident

occurred along Minna road. They were subsequently hospitalised.

Though he was discharged seven days later, the coach has been recuperating at home and should be ready to return to the bench in a fortnight, according to club Chairman, Abba Galadima.

Galadima confirmed that the two assistant coaches, Aliyu Makaiba and Kabiru Baleria, who were discharged two days after the

incident had since resumed their respective duties. ``The technical adviser is in good shape and will resume his duties weeks from now. He has made tremendous progress since the accident. We are looking forward to having him back because he is an integral part of the team. The other two coaches have resumed duties.

“In fact the team is on its way to Akure for our next encounter

and both coaches travelled with the players,” Galadima said.

Meanwhile, the chairman has revealed that the club’s management was focused on winning the league and stressed that Baba Ganaru’s return would boost their chances in the race for the Globacom Premier League title.

“We are still on top of the log and the club’s board of directors and technical crew are working

hand-in-hand to ensure that we win it back-to-back. More so, we are expecting Ganaru back soon and we are hopeful that his return will enhance our chances in defending our title,” the chairman added.

Pillars are currently occupying the topt position with 42 points after 24 matches. They are scheduled to play away to Sunshine Stars of Akure today.

By Patrick Andrew

and thereafter fly to Abuja aboard Medview Airlines for a brief reception to be hosted by the NBBF. The Minister will formally bid the team and staff farewell for a successful championship in Cote d’ ivoire,” Omorodion said in a release yesterday.

The team will vie for honours against the likes of Angola, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, and hosts Cote d’ Ivoire.

According to the statement, the team will be led by Head Coach, Ayodele Bakare, who will be assisted by Sani Ahmed, Ayinla Johnson, Ogoh Odaudu and Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The player include: Abdulwahab Aminu, Alfarouk Aminu, Andy Obinna Ogude, Ben Chukwukelo Uzoh, Chamberlain Nnaemeka Oguchi and Gani Oladimeji Lawal.

Others are: Ike Diogu, Jamaal Olasewere, Olumide Oyedeji, Richard Chukwuma Oruche, Stanley Gumut and Chukwuemeka Okoye.

The team would also be accomapanied by Dr Suleiman Ohida, Physiotherapist,

M

inister of Sport, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi is the third African sports minister to confirm his participation on the ‘Sport and Government’ panel at the Soccerex African Forum in

Injured Pillars’ coach, Ganaru, back in a fortnight

N

D

’ Tigres will this weekend fly out to Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire to challenge for honours in the Afrobasket 2013 Championship.

Accordingly, a 20-man team will be later night by the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, ahead of their departure this Sunday for Abidjan.

Disclosing this yesterday, Patrick Omorodion confirmed that the D’ Tigress who will their opening game on August 20th, will be bided farewell by the minister in Abuja, while the nation hopes for a successful championship.

The D’ Tigres had earlier had trained in Abuja and Los Angeles before participating in the Stankvic Tournament in China, where they finished third.

The returns this morning and will immediately fly to Abuja, rest awhile before the farewell reception. ``D` Tigers will arrive in Lagos from Orlando, Florida on Saturday morning aboard the Virgin Atlantic flight at 5.30am

D’Tigres off to Abidjan Sunday

Ike Diogu of D’ Tigres launching an attack during one of the 2012 London Olympics qualifying games.

Ekundayo Ogunkunle and Media Officer, Patrick Omorodion.

President of the NBBF, Tijjani

Umar had recently expressed delight with the team’s build-up and believes despite being third

in the China fiesta, the team, who impressed at the 2012 London Olympics Games will excel.

Lobi set to escape relegation zone

L

Lobi Stars players in good mood

obi Stars central defender, Anthony Agbaji has said his side has abandoned the bottom spot on the league log for good.

The Makurdi-based side sat in bottom spot of the log prior to midweek’s Glo Premier League Matchday 25 tie but a heartwarming 1-0 win against visiting Sunshine Stars in Katsina-Ala has lifted the side to the 17th position on 32 points from possible 75.

Agbaji said his side is determined to sustain the new-found winning mentality in their subsequent matches.

“Never again will Lobi Stars

comeback to the bottom of the league log, we’ve left the ignoble position for good.

“We know how daunting and demanding the vow will be to maintain but we’ve resolved to work extremely hard to consolidate and improve on our position.

“The mid-week victory will serve as strong motivation ahead of our next road match at Sharks in Port Harcourt.

“Sharks won their last game at city rivals, Dolphins same as ours and will come all out to grab another win on home soil.

“We’re determined to puncture their dream in the game aimed at getting something substantial for ourselves.

“We’ll cherish whatever sacrifice and price to keep us away from the bottom, we won’t consider any sacrifice too much to make,” said the 2013 Federation Cup semifinalists’ strongman said.

The 2012 Federation Cup finalists will square up against six-time Nigerian champions, Enyimba on Wednesday in Benin City in a battle of wits to determine who progress to the Cup final in Lagos on September 15.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Page 51

Sports

Napoli set for £5m swoop for Mikel N

igerian midfielder, John Obi Mikel, could be on his way to Italy’s Serie A as the top football leagues across Europe begin to stir from hibernation The 26-year-old has attracted interest from Italian club, SC Napoli who have now tabled a £5 million (N1.3 billion) bid for his services.

Napoli are currently managed by the former Chelsea interim manager, Rafa Benitez who is a huge admirer of Mikel.

It is also widely believed that Mikel does not command the confidence of the Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho to play in the

heart of the side’s midfield.

Authoritative British newspaper, Metro, reports that Napoli are lining up a bid to prise the Nigerian away from Stamford Bridge.

Mikel, who was recently courted by Turkish giants, Galatasaray, has since declared that he is happy at Chelsea but the Naples club are still confident of doing business in their bid to land the Nigerian.

The Italian giants could offer regular first-team football – something that is in doubt at Chelsea – and that could prove to be the tipping point.

It is also believed that Chelsea

Benitez ponder Mascherano

B

arcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has admitted that he is still in regular contact with Rafael Benitez amid reports that Napoli is interested in signing the Argentine.

The 29-year-old worked with the Spanish coach from 2007 until 2010 during his time at Liverpool and has fond memories of the current Partenopei boss.

“We still often speak to each other. We keep in touch pretty much on a daily basis. He has helped me become a better player.

Mascherano, whose contract with Barcelona runs until 2016, recently admitted that a number of clubs have enquired about his availability, but added that no concrete offers have been made.

Javier Mascherano

Gustavo joins Wolfsburg

A

rsenal target Luiz Gustavo has signed for Wolfsburg from Bayern Munich for a reported fee of around €20 million.

Gustavo, 26, has agreed a five-year deal with Wolfsburg as he looks to secure regular firstteam football ahead of next year’s World Cup. The Brazil international had been strongly linked with Arsenal, who are in the market for signings, but he has opted to remain in the Bundesliga.

Following the summer arrivals of Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara, Gustavo’s place in the Bayern pecking order had slipped, leading to conjecture over his future.

Gustavo signed for Bayern from Hoffenheim in 2011 and helped the club claim a historic Treble last season.

are expected to try and bring in another holding player regardless of whether Mikel stays or goes with AS Roma’s Daniele De Rossi a key target.

Mourinho has also hinted through his selections in Chelsea’s pre-season games that Mikel may not be first-choice this season with the “the special one” showing his preference for the 20-year-old Dutch midfielder, Marco Van Ginkel.

With Chelsea expected to reject an initial bid for the Nigerian, Napoli are believed to be willing to spend up to £8 million (about N2.1 billion) to get their man.

Mikel Obi

Babatunde seals four year deal with Volyn

N

igeria international has put pen to paper for another Ukrainian side and will be there for the next four seasons for an undisclosed fee Super Eagles’ midfielder, Michael Babatunde has signed for Ukrainian Premier League side Volyn FC for four years and an undisclosed fee.

Babatunde left FC Kryvbas another club in Ukraine after the club was declared bankrupt.

He featured for Nigeria at the Fifa Confederation Cup where he came from the bench twice against Tahiti and Uruguay.

Over five clubs notably from Ukraine made enquiries about the young Nigerian that will turn 21 on December 24 before he finally settled for Volyn whose contract offer and play time agreement was okay with Babatunde.

Volyn are 14th with four points from five games on the log and they play at home to Karpaty on Monday August 19 in one of the day six matches.

Babatunde

Michu unlikely to join Arsenal

S

Gustavo

wansea City manager Michael Laudrup has told Arsenal it would take an absolutely ridiculous to sign Michu and warned his club will not do business late in the window.

Gunners having been frustrated in their attempts to sign the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez are now considering moves for Michu and Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.

There appears to be little prospect that Dzeko will be allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium, and Laudrup has now said the Swans have no reason to sell Michu, who contributed 22

goals last season.

Even if the Gunners were to make a substantial bid, Laudrup said his club would have to be given time to bring in an adequate replacement.

Laudrup said he thought the 27-year-old, who committed to a new deal at the Liberty Stadium in January, might be tempted to play for Barcelona or Real Madrid but suggested he would not look to force a move to Arsenal.

“If Barcelona or Madrid came in for Michu, who is Spanish, well, I think you say there are some trains that only pass once, but I think he will stay here.

Michu

PAGE 52

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Something to cheer

B

lessing Okagbare may not have won gold at the 14th World Athletics Championship, which curtains will be dropped this Sunday.

True, we had great expectations. She had the forth best time in the world in 100m, had beaten her rivals at key championships en route Moscow.

But she won podium honours. Yes, it was not gold and not even in the 100m where all hope and focus had been on her. First, it was in long jump: The same event that Nigeria won her maiden individual Olympic medal through Chioma Ajunwa. Okagbare narrowly missed the long jump gold on account of poor landing.

True, she wept after failing to secure a medal position in the 100m that was won by Shelly Ann FraserPryce, the same fellow that she defeated hands down at the London Anniversary Games. But then, the

brave Amazon put that behind her and took up the gauntlet as she turned her strength to the 200m.

That too is history, but not without Blessing Okagbare’s name on the plaque. No, it’s neither gold nor silver. But she was close, very close. It was a photo finish between her and Cote d’ Ivoire’s Murielle Ahoure, the same girl that edged her in the 100m and eventually clinched silver behind Shelly Ann. The time both clocked was 22.32 seconds. It was a classic photo finish by all means.

Blessing was third. Her reaction time was 0.154, Ahoure’s 0. 180 and the winner- Shelly Ann’s reaction time was 0. 156 of a second.

That’s impressive by all means if one considers that she alone won Nigeria’s two medal so far.

One recalls that some years ago,

bronze tasted better than gold. Yes, Christian Chukwu’s Super Eagles had won bronze at the Nations Cup finals. En route the bronze, Nigeria’s then biggest nemesis in African football Cameroon had fallen victim to the claws of the Eagles. And so, rather than mourn our loss of the prestigious trophy, Nigerians celebrated, not necessarily the bronze but, they savoured the conquest of the Indomitable Lions.

Twelve years on Nigeria had participated at the IAAF World Championships, often with a retinue of administrative and technical officials in what usually becomes another jamboree. They come back with nothing but distended bellies.

Of course, the height of the aimless and fruitless punch was at the 2012 London Olympic Games and then the curtain was dropped.

owoidoh_ng35@yahoo.com 08093782812 So, the double header victory: silver and bronze won by the Golden Girl Blessing Okagbare has not only cleared the hazy coast but redeemed some pride for Nigeria, Solomon Ogba and his team, irrespective of their minimal contributions to her success.

The point is, Blessing deserves some national recognition of some sort. An appreciative nation should

stand up for her. Some reasonable clapping will do no little good to her ego, spurs her on for further ascend on the ladder of international accomplishments. That incentive massages the ego more than a belated trumpet perhaps when her bones has grown weak and indeed wobbling. Something to cheer Blessing in much the way she has cheered us all up.

Okagbare wins second IAAF Worlds medal for Nigeria in 12 years

By Patrick Andrew

B

lessing Okagbare put smiles on the faces of Nigerians again yesterday by clinching her second consecutive IAAF World Championships medals in under a week at the championships in Moscow, Russia.

That makes it two for her and two for Nigeria. It also means Nigeria returns to the IAAF Worlds Championship for the first time in 12 years.

Though it was a photo finish between her and Murielle Ahoure of Ivory Coast, Okagbare was awarded bronze but just enough to ensure that Nigeria gets into the medal table again. The Nigerian, who jumped 6.69m to win silver last Saturday, clocked 22. 32 seconds.

Shelly Ann, who won the 100m clinched a championships double, outpacing her compatriots in the field by posting 22.17 seconds while Olympics champion, Alyson Felix did not finish because of injury.

Three-time champion Felix was chasing a record ninth gold medal but she is unlikely to feature in

the American team for the final of the women’s 4x100m.

Fraser-Pryce, 26, joins East Germans Silke Gladisch (1987) and Katrin Krabbe (1991) in completing a World Championships sprint double.

According to BBC reports, David Verburg, Tony McQuay, Arman Hall and LaShawn Merritt won the 4 x400m relay race in two minutes, 58.71 seconds. Jamaica clocked 2:59.88 and Russia 2:59.90, with Great Britain fourth in 3:00.88.

Russia’s Aleksandr Menkov won the men’s long jump with a leap of 8.56m on his fifth attempt, a personal best and the longest in the world this year.

Menkov took gold in the men’s long jump Ignisious Gaisah of the Netherlands set a new national record of 8.29 to finish second, ahead of Mexico’s Luis Rivera (8.27) in third.

Defending world and Olympic champion Tatyana Lysenko also delighted the home fans by winning the women’s hammer with a championship record of 78.80m.

Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk, the 2009 champion, finished second

Blessing Okagbare coasting home during the heats

FG lauds lauds Okagbare

T

he Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, on behalf of the presidency yesterday congratulated Blessing Okagbare for recording yet another decent performance at the ongoing IAAF World Championship in Russia, winning a bronze medal in the 200metre race.

The federal government was impressed that despite the weight of her disappointment in the 100m final, she could put that behind her to post an impressive performance.

Okagbare had earlier won a silver medal in the long jump, the first medal Nigeria would win at any IAAF World Championship since 1999.

Nigeria is now placed 21st on the medal table, higher than countries such as Italy (23rd), Australia (29th) and Japan (29th).

Abdullahi praised Blessing for her hard work, resilience and great attitude. “She has got what it takes to be a world champion and I have no doubt that in time she is going to dominate the world in her

disciplines.

“I congratulate her and the Nigerian team for breaking the 14 year jinx of not winning any medal at IAAF Championships. I believe that with the level of support we have received from Mr. President and the systems we are putting in place, Nigerians will see significant improvement in our performances athletics competitions and in sports generally. I wish Blessing and the rest of the team the very best in the remaining events,” he said.

with a throw of 78.46, while China’s Zhang Wenxiu threw 75.58 to finish third.

David Storl of Germany retained his men’s shot put title.

His winning throw of 21.73m was initially flagged for a foul but later reinstated.

Ryan Whiting of the United

States took silver with a throw of 21.57 and Dylan Armstrong of Canada earned bronze with 21.34.

The championship will end this Sunday, while Team Nigeria contingent which comprise of twenty athletes and eight technical officials will return before midweek

Top of the medal table • • • • • •

USA: 16 (5 gold, 9 silver, 2 bronze) Russia: 11 (5 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze) Kenya: 9 (3 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze) Germany: 6 (3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze) Jamaica: 5 (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) GB & NI: 3 (3 gold)

PAGE 53

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

Digest Optician’s clinic that fits a pocket

By James Gallagher

C

ataracts cloud Mirriam Waithara’s world and leave her almost blind.

She lives in a poor and remote part of Kenya where there are no opticians to pick up the problem and she is far from the only one.

The World Health Organization says 285 million people are blind or visually impaired.

The reason is often simple and easy to treat. A pair of glasses or cataract surgery can transform someone’s eyesight.

What we hope is that it will provide eye care for those who are the poorest of the poor”, Dr Andrew Bastawrous London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

It is thought that four out of every five cases can be prevented or cured.

Even in the poorest parts of the world there are often eye doctors in the major towns and cities.

However, says Dr Andrew Bastawrous of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, finding patients is often the problem.

“Patients who need it most will never be able to reach hospital because they’re the ones beyond the end of the road, they don’t have income to find transport so we needed a way to find them,” he told the BBC. But he thinks he has come up with a solution that is mobile and can be used with very little training.

He is trialling a smartphone app called Peek (Portable Eye Examination Kit) on 5,000 people in Kenya.

It uses the camera to scan the lens of the eye for cataracts.

A shrinking letter which appears on screen is used as a basic vision test.

And it can uses the camera’s flash light to illuminate the back of the eye, the retina, to check for disease.

A patient’s records are stored on the phone, their exact location is recorded using GPS and the results can be emailed to doctors.

The phone is relatively cheap, costing around £300 rather than using bulky eye examination equipment costing in excess of

“

£100,000.

But does it give the same diagnosis?

The images taken on the phone during the tests in Nakuru, Kenya, are being sent back to Moorfield’s Eye Hospital in London.

The pictures are being compared with ones taken with conventional eye examination gear, which has been transported around the region in the back of a van.

The study is not complete, but the research team say the early results are promising and that 1,000 people have received some form of treatment so far.

They include Mirriam Waithara. She had an operation to remove her cataracts and can now see again.

“What we hope is that it will provide eye care for those who are the poorest of the poor,” Dr Bastawrous said.

“A lot of the hospitals are able to provide cataract surgery which is the most common cause of blindness, but actually getting the patient to the hospitals is the problem.

“What we can do using this is the technicians can go to the patients, to their homes, examine them at their front doors and diagnose them there and then.”

The idea is already attracting praise even at an early stage.

Peter Ackland, from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, said: “I think the Peek tool is potentially a huge game changer.

“If you’re a breadwinner and you can’t see and you can’t work then the whole family is in crisis.

“At the moment we simply don’t have the trained eye health staff to bring eye care services to the poorest communities.

This tool will enable us to do that with relatively untrained people.”

The greatest need is in poor countries where around 90% of the world’s blind and visually impaired people live.

Mr Ackland believes Africa and northern India will be the places most likely to benefit as ophthalmologists and optomotetrists there are operating at around 30-40% of their capacity.

Source: BBCNews.com

...the technicians can go to the patients, to their homes, examine them at their front doors and diagnose them there and then.

Mirriam Waithara had cataracts removed and can now see again

The mobile app in action: Scanning the back of the eye

The phone can be used to look at the retina at the back of the eye and check the health of the optic nerve

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18, AUGUST, 2013

PAGE 54

Buhari pardon? Made GEJ to do same to Alams? He should go and sit down jare.

Must he talk?

56 feared killed in Borno attacks

Biggy says: If the president of Nigeria cannot do something about it, it means we don’t have any president

Erelu Obada

My search Nigeria jinxed, for pure cursed, says honey drove Obasanjo 1. Mbang Egbai says: me to honey Well, I think former production President Obasanjo is really bad that things are – Proprietress, feeling not going on well in Nigeria ‘A and Shine the way they should.

What is more important Honey’ now is the way forward. Him-

DHL supplies solar light to Africa

Solar Lamps says: African people, particularly, those living in Africa face so many problems. They are without power supply to charge mobile phones, and often have to walk for miles to get the basic essentials.

Many are compelled to resort to generators in their homes. Of course, apart from noise pollution, the Sheriff says: self (Obasanjo), given his wealth environment is almost overGood day to you out of experience and other well whelmed with chemical polthere, please I will like to get meaning Nigerians should, as a lution. Using solar lamps will in touch with Mrs Adesina matter of necessity and urgency, help them to reduce all these.

Phunke says: come up with possible solutions Please can I be linked which can get our nation out of Actor Ali Nuhu up with Mrs Adeshina? Am the doldrums. lustful desires into honey business and I It is not too late. Where would need supplies. there is a will, there would towards Omotola Confidence says: be a way. God bless Nigeria. revealed Hello Sir, I am very interExtreme Glow says: Simon Tor Gideon says: ested in honey business for Ali Nuhu, she don marry OBJ is part and parcel of years now. I will like you to all the problems facing Ni- o, na person wife o. link me up with Mrs Adesgeria. Was he not the one ina. that granted the same Salihu Obada lauds

Gov Amaechi

you up.

Amaechi’s love for the selfdestruct button

Igee Hameed says: It is the likes of Amaechi that collude with Obasanjo to dislodge the pragmatic worthy men of Igbo extraction.

What is wrong if Jonathan seeks second term?

After all, he is entitled to that. If Umar Yar’Adua did not die, he too would have sought a second term.

Why is Amaechi conniving with others to stab Jonathan on the back?

Franklin, you have spoken well. I think, the Igbos should not play the second fiddle to other tribes. We all have equal stake in Nigeria, and everyone should have the right to contest for the

Navy for effort to stop illegal bunkering

Gen. Obasanjo

Barrister Raymond says: Do you need a helping hand into these various academy eg.

(1)Nigeria Civil Deference Academy (2)Nigeria Air force (3)Navy (4)Nigeria Police Force (5)Custom service (6)Army For any of this help call Barrister Raymond to link

Gov. Oshiomhole

highest office in the land without having to depend on the say so of some persons or region.

2015: S/ south group endorses Buhari/ Oshiomhole’s ticket

Sheche says: APC should not weaken their chances of dethroning the PDP by fielding Buhari/ Oshomhole for the 2015 presidential elections. The retired General should only play the role of an elder statesman.

The APC will brighten their prospects for clinching the presidential elections if it fields either OSHIOMOLE / AMAECHI, FASHOLA or a visionary leader from the North.

Page 55

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18 , AUGUST, 2013

From the Pulpit

Becoming unstoppable in life (II)

P

raise the Lord! I’m glad to welcome you to your favourite column. I started this message last week taking my text from John 5:1-9 where we saw how Jesus at the Pool of Bethsaida healed a man who had been stopped for 38 years. He gave the man a new beginning.

The same God that gave this man a new beginning also gave that man by the Beautiful Gate a new beginning by the hand of Peter and John. That man was more fortunate than the man at the Pool of Bethesda for 38 years because he still had people taking him to and fro the Beautiful Gate to collect alms. We don’t know if their motivation for doing this was altruistic or they were sharing from the alms collected at the end of the day!

When Peter and John met this man, he was not expecting from them any miracle but alms as usual. But Peter told him, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6 KJV). And verses 7-9 say, “And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God” (KJV).

If you stay too long in your problem even the closest person may desert you. When the problem is still fresh, you will see people coming to sympathize or empathize with you, coming to help you. But if the condition becomes prolonged, you will be fortunate if you still have some people standing with you. You will not experience such situation in Jesus’ name. You will not be

kept on the sick bed being at the mercy of people in Jesus’ name.

You won’t need people to carry you around, to feed you, to lead you in and out in Jesus’ name.

Job’s Adversity Job was in such a depressing situation. After the series of calamity that befell him, he was deserted by family members and even his friends. He said in Job 16:20 that his friends scorned him but he poured out his tears to God. Hear Job’s lamentation: “My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me. My neighbors and my close friends are all gone. The members of my household have forgotten me. The servant girls consider me a stranger. I am like a foreigner to them. I call my servant, but he doesn’t come; I even plead with him! My breath is repulsive to my wife. I am loathsome to my own family. Even young children despise me. When I stand to speak, they turn their backs on me.

My close friends abhor me. Those I loved have turned against me” (Job 19:13-19 NLT). Did you see that? Such evil shall not befall you in Jesus’ name.

No doubt, success has many parents but failure is an orphan!

Truly the Bible says, “The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; but the rich hath many friends” (Prov 14:20 ASV). Prov 19:7 conveys a similar thought: “If the relatives of the poor despise them, how much more will their friends avoid them.

The poor call after them, but they are gone” (NLT). This shall not be your portion in Jesus’ name. Your life shall not be desolate.

Miserable Comforters Not only was Job deserted by relatives, friends and servants, his three friends who came to him were miserable comforters. Rather than encourage him, they came to condemn him. Job told them

“How long will you torture me?

How long will you try to break me with your words?” (Job 19:2 NLT) What he was saying was, “You are indeed destroying me with words” (Job 19:2 The Septuagint). Words are very powerful. Words can build and words can destroy. Be careful what you say to people especially in their trials. Hear what Prov 18:24 says, “There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother” (NLT).

Don’t be a fair weather friend; don’t destroy your friends with your words – your comments, your counsel, your opinions or your criticisms. Be an encourager like Barnabas, the apostle, whose name translates to “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36) And indeed, Barnabas lived out that name as exemplified in his relationship with Apostle Paul and John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin.

(Acts 9:27, 11:25-26, 15:36-40) May the Lord deliver you from friends who destroy in Jesus’ name.

Faithful friends That’s why I like the four friends of the paralytic who were so full of love for their friend and faithful to him that, against all odds, they got this man to Jesus to heal him. They didn’t allow any barrier to compromise their determination to ensure that their paralytic friend was healed.

Hear the story: “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.

So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you’” (Mark 2:3-5 NKJV).

Though the scribes accused Jesus

GREEN PASTURES By pastor t.o. banso

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 of blasphemy for saying the man’s sins were forgiven because only God could forgive sins, Jesus still went ahead to heal the man. “‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!’” (Verses 11-12 NKJV) Jesus wouldn’t have been able to heal this man if he didn’t have faith-filled and faithful friends who carried him to that meeting and were determined that the man must be healed. Their solution to the barrier that the crowd constituted was to take apart the flat roof of the house made of a mixture of mud and straw and lower the man down on his bed.

They didn’t worry if they would pay for the repair of the roof later! To them, the man was more important than the roof or money.

And they achieved their goal of getting their friend healed. There are not many friends today like these four friends. May you have faithful friends who will stand with you in your hour of need.

Back to the story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda. Jesus healed him and for once, he knew he didn’t need a man! Bethesda was the house of grace. This man was not healed by Jesus because he had faith but he was healed by grace. Yes, he found grace but truly it was grace that found him.

His answer to Jesus’ question did not reflect his faith but grace in the house healed him; he obtained mercy. Hallelujah!

You will find grace in Jesus’name; grace will find you out. The Lord shall have mercy on you in your present situation. He will heal you, deliver you, and set you free in Jesus’ name. Please join me again next week.

TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God” I believe you have said this prayer from your heart.

Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus.

I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. May the Lord be with you.

The preservation of the scripture Matthew 5:17,18

“

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

What is referred to as “the law or the prophets” in verse 17 is called “the law” in verse 18. When “the law” is used in this way, it is referring to the entire Old Testament. Compare Matthew 23:23 with Proverbs 21:2,3; Hosea 6:6; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Isaiah 43:10-12; John 10:34,35 with Psalm 82:6; John 12:34 with Psalms 89:36; 110:4; John 15:25 with Psalm 35:19; 1 Corinthians 7:39 with Malachi 2:14-16; 1 Corinthians 14:21 with Isaiah 28:11,12.

These passages of Scripture

reveal that the entire Old Testament is referred to as “the law.” Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law” the inspired Scripture, the Old Testament.

“The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat” (Matthew 23:2).

They misinterpreted God’s Word and still projected themselves as the true teachers and interpreters of God’s Word. Our Lord opposed them and criticised their erroneous teaching. They then accused Him of coming to destroy the law - “the law and the prophets” because He would not support their false religious system. Jesus came to destroy all the false interpretations of the Old Testament but He did not come to destroy the Old Testament; He came to fulfill it.

1. CHRIST’S AUTHORITY

By pastor W.F Kumuyi

AND THE SCRIPTURES Matthew 5:18; 7:28,29; Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:5-11; Acts 3:22,23; Deuteronomy 18:18,19; John 5:21-27; Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10,11; 1 Peter 3:21,22.

Christ taught and preached

with absolute and final authority.

This authority had been conferred on Him by God, the Father. He taught with the authority of a Judge, with the authority of a King.

As a “Teacher come from God” His authority is far above that of any teacher, prophet or apostle.

Christ’s authority far exceeds the authority of all the true prophets of God, past, present and future.

He is God’s final voice (Hebrews 1:1-4).

Christ is greater than (1) the angels-Hebrews 1:4; (2) MosesHebrews 3:3-6; (3) the temple and the priests-Matthew 12:5-8; (4) Solomon-Matthew 12:42; (5) Jonah-Luke 11:32; (6) John the Baptist-Luke 3:16; (7) Abraham and the prophets-John 8:53-56.

His authority is greater than that of angels and all men that ever lived. Yet, in His authority, He confirmed the infallibility and permanence of the Scripture.

He saw nothing to correct, change, modify or amend. “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

BIG PUNCH Any government that fails to invest in education is a vagabond government.

The problem with Nigeria is that we have more thieves than saints in government.

– Prof. Tam David-West

SATURDAY 17 — SUNDAY 18 , AUGUST, 2013

Nigeria’s growing youth unemployment: entrepreneurship to the rescue

E

ver dreamt of graduating from the University and living a financially secured life ever after? Chances are high you do – it’s a common dream these days.

It’s not unusual to hear students proclaim that they would have a financially viable life as soon as they graduate and get employed

by Chevron, Dangote Group, Microsoft Corporation, Globacom or United Nations. A neighbour of mine became popular for his frequent chanting of “When I begin to work and I start on a salary scale of N450,000, people that mock me now would run after me. My car would attract all those annoying girls that only look down on me and don’t want to marry now.”

While it is good to be optimistic, such wishful thinking and building of castles in the air shows a deep misunderstanding of the mechanics of the Nigerian labour market of today. The misunderstood or neglected truth is that graduation isn’t a guarantee of employment as academic meal ticket called certificate isn’t as important as your skills, versatility, proficiency and diligence.

Of course, certificates are marketable commodities and can often get you an invitation for an interview and probably a job, but the real concern of job employers of today is your employability.

You may be lucky to get an enviable job with your meal ticket, but you cannot retain it with same!

The prime question isn’t whether you bagged a First Class or a Second Class Upper, it’s whether you’re outgoing, have the most up-to-date skills of the job environment, have potentials you can dish out to your employer and whether bringing you on board can make a difference.

My own life is punctuated with practical instances of securing a job far above my paper qualification.

While I was still a mere SSCE holder, I audaciously applied for a teaching job in a ‘big’ primary school which minimum qualification was NCE and 3 years working experience – both of which I lacked. I thought I wasn’t eligible and would most probably not get the job, but trying out doesn’t harm anyone. The headmistress said she invited me for the interview in admiration of my audacity.

The interview – written, classroom and oral – lasted 3 long hours. Although my papers said I wasn’t the right man, my ‘stuff’ landed me the job and saw me rub shoulders, and favourably well, with better qualified and more

GUEST COLUMNIST With

Muhammed Abdullahi Tosin mabtocomworld@yahoo.com

student to embark on a voyage of concerted self development: nurturing of the head, training of the hand and building of the mind.

Unemployment keeps snowballing daily. From a modest 5.3% in December, 2005, the unemployed population of Nigeria has quadrupled to 23.9%. Even worse is that youth unemployment rate is 50%. If you’re an

colleagues as my clients. Currently, I have transformed my passion for writing into a hybrid of business and community development.

How? I got a website, post free daily essay contest news and free writing tutorials. Over 10,000 Nigerian youth have, and continue to get inspired and empowered from the initiative.

And I also earn a decent income

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chukwuemeka Wogu

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

experienced colleagues.

Also, as an undergraduate, I have worked as a paid freelance writer with IslamOnline, a reputable international media outfit because my editor was only interested in what I could do and not what my papers say I was qualified to do. This should not be seen as an exercise in self-praise. It’s only intended to drive home my point that your

undergraduate today, chances are there would be even fewer jobs when you turn a graduate. That’s not pessimism. The skills you’ll need to succeed aren’t taught in school. You must get onto the field and gather them.

Has anyone ever wondered why no single employee ever made the list of the 100 richest men?

The reason is simple: the future belongs to entrepreneurs. Head on to Forbes now and see for yourself.

My sincere advice is this: rather than be a from-companyto-company job seeker, you should learn and strive to engage in business ventures to secure financial autonomy, and the best time to start is while in school.

University education shouldn’t be a precondition to economic pursuit; both should be complementary.

Learn to make a living from your passion. This model has worked for me. When I was in 200level in the University, I was passionate about phone engineering, and I quickly turned it into a profitable business, with my

proficiency ranks above your paper qualification.

Many a student desires to live a comfortable life after school, but few make preparation for the challenges involved. Those in such situations often get disappointed and learn by hard experience that graduation with good grades isn’t in itself a guarantee of a decent job with a robust pay. There is, therefore, the need for every

“

Unemployment keeps snowballing daily. From a modest 5.3% in December, 2005, the unemployed population of Nigeria has quadrupled to 23.9%.

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writing for clients I never would have known if I didn’t explore my passion. Managing the website, I learnt website design, and now that’s another legitimate business for me, thanks to my passion for it.

You can do the same – even better. Each person has an innate, unique set of talents and super abilities which he can monetize with ease. Some are creative writers, others are orators, some enjoy bead making, others fancy stage decoration, hand-made cards, private teaching, just name it.

The 2013 UNDP Human Development Index ranks Nigeria as 153 out of 186 countries. Too bad! This won’t change overnight.

I must act. You must act. Rather than join the bandwagon of frustrated job seekers, create jobs and save some of them. So start thinking in the –preneur way: ‘penpreneur,’ ‘technopreneur,’ ‘sociopreneur’ and ‘agropreneur.’

Unemployment is real. But it has a potent cure. Seize the day – right now.

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